--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion…" description: "\"Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known; and such is the state or folly of man, that it is known only by experience of its contrary.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_contrary_happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion_1819818.png" --- # Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known… ![“Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known; and such is the state or folly of man, that it is known only by experience of its contrary.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_contrary_happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion_1819818.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_contrary_happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion_1819818.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_contrary_happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion_1819818.png) > “Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known; and such is the state or folly of man, that it is known only by experience of its contrary.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness depends on understanding its opposite; we only recognize joy through experiencing sorrow. **In simple terms:** We know happiness by feeling its opposite. Key Takeaway Seek balance by embracing all emotions. Themes philosophy human nature emotion Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - relationships Key Concepts comparative experience wisdom Questions to Reflect On - How does loss shape your joy? - Can you find happiness without knowing sorrow? A Different Perspective Happiness can be fleeting without contrast. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyed/) [Enjoyed Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyed-proportion-2184312/) [Experience Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-contrary-2184311/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-enjoyed-2184310/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [Proportion Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion-known-2184313/) [State Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-folly-2184309/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [“Experience, contrary to common belief, is mostly imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/experience-contrary-to-common-belief-is-mostly-imagination/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [What ever the motive for the insult, it is always best to overlook it; for folly doesn't deserve resentment, and malice is punished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/what-ever-the-motive-for-the-insult-it-is-always-best-to-overlook-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [In life's last scene what prodigies surprise, Fears of the brave, and follies of the wise! From Marlborough's eyes the streams of dotage flow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-life-s-last-scene-what-prodigies-surprise-fears-of-the-brave-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Affectation is to be always distinguished from hypocrisy as being the art of counterfeiting those qualities, which we might with innocence and safety, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/affectation-is-to-be-always-distinguished-from-hypocrisy-as-being-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A contempt of the monuments and the wisdom of the past, may be justly reckoned one of the reigning follies of these days, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-contempt-of-the-monuments-and-the-wisdom-of-the-past-may-be-justly/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Exercise cannot secure us from that dissolution to which we are decreed; but while the soul and body continue united, it can make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/exercise-cannot-secure-us-from-that-dissolution-to-which-we-are/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Where there is emulation, there will be vanity; where there is vanity, there will be folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/where-there-is-emulation-there-will-be-vanity-where-there-is-vanity/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his mind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence-and-hurry-he-that-neglects/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Such is the uncertainty of human affairs, that security and despair are equal follies; and as it is presumption and arrogance to anticipate triumphs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-uncertainty-of-human-affairs-that-security-and-despair/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If we will have the kindness of others, we must endure their follies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-we-will-have-the-kindness-of-others-we-must-endure-their-follies/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Such is the state of every age, every sex, and every condition: all have their cares, either from nature or from folly; and whoever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-state-of-every-age-every-sex-and-every-condition-all-have/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [London! the needy villain's general home, The common sewer of Paris and of Rome! With eager thirst, by folly or by fate, Sucks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/london-the-needy-villain-s-general-home-the-common-sewer-of-paris-and/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All unnecessary vows are folly, because they suppose a prescience of the future, which has not been given us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-unnecessary-vows-are-folly-because-they-suppose-a-prescience-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Among the numerous stratagems by which pride endeavors to recommend folly to regard, there is scarcely one that meets with less success than affectation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-the-numerous-stratagems-by-which-pride-endeavors-to-recommend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Contrary quotes > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [No truly conscious human being sabotages himself - it's impossible, because it's contrary to Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-truly-conscious-human-being-sabotages-himself-it-s-impossible/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [There is, in fact, nothing about religious opinions that entitles them to any more respect than other opinions get. On the contrary, they tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/there-is-in-fact-nothing-about-religious-opinions-that-entitles-them/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I am not Christ or a philanthropist, old lady, I am all the contrary of a Christ I fight for the things I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/i-am-not-christ-or-a-philanthropist-old-lady-i-am-all-the-contrary-of/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [“Do they think that they have given us great pleasure by telling us that they hold our soul to be no more than wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-they-think-that-they-have-given-us-great-pleasure-by-telling-us/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/god-has-given-this-way-of-life-to-israel-to-abstain-from-everything/) [Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/) > [ We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. \[This is\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theory-has-been-accepted-as-fact/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) > [Christianity, righty understood, is utterly unlike religion that man invents. It is so completely contrary to the way man does things that it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halverson/christianity-righty-understood-is-utterly-unlike-religion-that-man/) [Richard Halverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halverson/) [Browse all 1,589 Contrary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known; and such is the state or folly of man, that it is known only by experience of its contrary.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion-as-it-is-known-and-such-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contrary" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion-as-it-is-known-and-such-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_contrary_happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion_1819818.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_contrary_happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion_1819818.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/samuel-johnson-50_contrary_happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion_1819818.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion as it is known; and such is the state or folly of man, that it is…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Happiness is enjoyed only in proportion...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion-as-it-is-known-and-such-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/happiness-is-enjoyed-only-in-proportion-as-it-is-known-and-such-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```