--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why be unhappy about something if it can…" description: "\"Why be unhappy about something if it can be remedied? And what is the use of being unhappy about something if it cannot be remedied?\" — Shantideva" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/shantideva-10592_being-unhappy_why-be-unhappy-about-something-if-it-can_203430.jpg" --- # Why be unhappy about something if it can be remedied? And… ![“Why be unhappy about something if it can be remedied? And what is the use of being unhappy about something if it cannot be remedied?” quote by Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/shantideva-10592_being-unhappy_why-be-unhappy-about-something-if-it-can_203430.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/shantideva-10592_being-unhappy_why-be-unhappy-about-something-if-it-can_203430.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/shantideva-10592_being-unhappy_why-be-unhappy-about-something-if-it-can_203430.jpg) > “Why be unhappy about something if it can be remedied? And what is the use of being unhappy about something if it cannot be remedied?” [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unhappiness is unnecessary when problems can be solved; if not, acceptance is wiser. **In simple terms:** Fix what you can, accept what you cannot. Key Takeaway Focus on solutions, practice acceptance. Themes mindfulness acceptance problem solving Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal crises - health issues - relationship conflicts Key Concepts impermanence compassion Questions to Reflect On - What can you change now? - How do you find peace with unchangeable issues? A Different Perspective Some problems may be beyond control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-unhappy/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever happens, I will not let my cheerfulness be disturbed. Being unhappy won't get me anywhere and will dissipate all my goodness. Why be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/whatever-happens-i-will-not-let-my-cheerfulness-be-disturbed-being/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [I find to my astonishment that an unhappy marriage goes on being unhappy when it is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/i-find-to-my-astonishment-that-an-unhappy-marriage-goes-on-being/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Happiness to me is simply not being unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-carrott/happiness-to-me-is-simply-not-being-unhappy/) [Jasper Carrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-carrott/) > [It was a silly, silly dream, being unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/it-was-a-silly-silly-dream-being-unhappy/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [What's the good of dragging up sufferings which are over, of being unhappy now just because you were then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/what-s-the-good-of-dragging-up-sufferings-which-are-over-of-being/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If you have to go through life being unhappy to conform to society around you, that's not a very good deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/if-you-have-to-go-through-life-being-unhappy-to-conform-to-society/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [... there are two ways of being unhappy. Not getting what you want is one. Getting what you want is the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/there-are-two-ways-of-being-unhappy-not-getting-what-you-want-is-one/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You can be fully satisfied with where you are, understanding that you're eternally evolving. When you get into that place of feeling appreciation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/you-can-be-fully-satisfied-with-where-you-are-understanding-that-you/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Never compromise and sell yourself short. I've been in the music business, a girl group . . . I've been through so many different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/never-compromise-and-sell-yourself-short-i-ve-been-in-the-music/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [It never occurred to me to be a film director, partly because I hadn't seen a single film by a female director, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/it-never-occurred-to-me-to-be-a-film-director-partly-because-i-hadn-t/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) > [Putin has made life difficult for a lot of Russia's richest men; they don't like the sanctions; they don't like the war with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/putin-has-made-life-difficult-for-a-lot-of-russia-s-richest-men-they/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [If you want to be happy, learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn that being alone does not mean being unhappy. The world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/if-you-want-to-be-happy-learn-to-be-alone-without-being-lonely-learn/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [All happy people are grateful. Ungrateful people cannot be happy. We tend to think that being unhappy leads people to complain, but it’s truer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/all-happy-people-are-grateful-ungrateful-people-cannot-be-happy-we/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-have-just-one-day-today-and-i-m-going-to-be-happy-in-it/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [If you walk away and they dont follow you. Keep going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-walk-away-and-they-dont-follow-you-keep-going/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Shantideva > [Instead of trying to cover the whole world with leather, put on some sandals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/instead-of-trying-to-cover-the-whole-world-with-leather-put-on-some/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [In the ages marked by scarcity and want, may I myself appear as drink and sustenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/in-the-ages-marked-by-scarcity-and-want-may-i-myself-appear-as-drink/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [All the suffering in the world comes from seeking pleasure for oneself. All the happiness in the world comes from seeking pleasure for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/all-the-suffering-in-the-world-comes-from-seeking-pleasure-for/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Examine thus yourself from every side. Note harmful thoughts and every futile striving. Thus it is that heroes in the bodhisattva path Apply the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/examine-thus-yourself-from-every-side-note-harmful-thoughts-and-every/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [All those who slight me to my face, Or do me any other evil, Even if they blame or slander me, May they attain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/all-those-who-slight-me-to-my-face-or-do-me-any-other-evil-even-if/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Those desiring to escape from suffering hasten right toward suffering. With the very desire for happiness, out of delusion they destroy their own happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/those-desiring-to-escape-from-suffering-hasten-right-toward-suffering/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [It is not possible to control all external events; But, if I simply control my mind what need is there to control other things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/it-is-not-possible-to-control-all-external-events-but-if-i-simply/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [The source of all happiness lies in thinking of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/the-source-of-all-happiness-lies-in-thinking-of-others/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [“We hate suffering, but love it’s causes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/we-hate-suffering-but-love-it-s-causes/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [It is natural for the immature to harm others. Getting angry with them is like resenting a fire for burning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/it-is-natural-for-the-immature-to-harm-others-getting-angry-with-them/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [“May the blind see the forms, May the deaf hear sounds. May the naked find clothing, The hungry find food; May the thirsty find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/may-the-blind-see-the-forms-may-the-deaf-hear-sounds-may-the-naked/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [What need is there to say more? The childish work for their own benefit, The Buddhas work for the benefit of others. Just look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/what-need-is-there-to-say-more-the-childish-work-for-their-own/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [The renunciation of doing harm is the perfection of discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/the-renunciation-of-doing-harm-is-the-perfection-of-discipline/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [In joy and sorrow all are equal, Thus be guardian of all, as of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/in-joy-and-sorrow-all-are-equal-thus-be-guardian-of-all-as-of-yourself/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Penetrative insight joined with calm abiding utterly eradicates afflicted states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/penetrative-insight-joined-with-calm-abiding-utterly-eradicates/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) [Explore all 63 Shantideva quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) ## More Being unhappy quotes > [If you have to go through life being unhappy to conform to society around you, that's not a very good deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/if-you-have-to-go-through-life-being-unhappy-to-conform-to-society/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [Never compromise and sell yourself short. I've been in the music business, a girl group . . . I've been through so many different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/never-compromise-and-sell-yourself-short-i-ve-been-in-the-music/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [You can be fully satisfied with where you are, understanding that you're eternally evolving. When you get into that place of feeling appreciation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/you-can-be-fully-satisfied-with-where-you-are-understanding-that-you/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [... there are two ways of being unhappy. Not getting what you want is one. Getting what you want is the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/there-are-two-ways-of-being-unhappy-not-getting-what-you-want-is-one/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [If you walk away and they dont follow you. Keep going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-walk-away-and-they-dont-follow-you-keep-going/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's the good of dragging up sufferings which are over, of being unhappy now just because you were then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/what-s-the-good-of-dragging-up-sufferings-which-are-over-of-being/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It was a silly, silly dream, being unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/it-was-a-silly-silly-dream-being-unhappy/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Happiness to me is simply not being unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-carrott/happiness-to-me-is-simply-not-being-unhappy/) [Jasper Carrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-carrott/) > [I find to my astonishment that an unhappy marriage goes on being unhappy when it is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/i-find-to-my-astonishment-that-an-unhappy-marriage-goes-on-being/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-have-just-one-day-today-and-i-m-going-to-be-happy-in-it/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [All happy people are grateful. Ungrateful people cannot be happy. We tend to think that being unhappy leads people to complain, but it’s truer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/all-happy-people-are-grateful-ungrateful-people-cannot-be-happy-we/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [If you want to be happy, learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn that being alone does not mean being unhappy. The world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/if-you-want-to-be-happy-learn-to-be-alone-without-being-lonely-learn/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Putin has made life difficult for a lot of Russia's richest men; they don't like the sanctions; they don't like the war with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/putin-has-made-life-difficult-for-a-lot-of-russia-s-richest-men-they/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [It never occurred to me to be a film director, partly because I hadn't seen a single film by a female director, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/it-never-occurred-to-me-to-be-a-film-director-partly-because-i-hadn-t/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) > [I wouldn't say that my emotions are extreme. I'd say they are committed. My moods are the equivalent of Madonna's dancing: inappropriate but all-out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/i-wouldn-t-say-that-my-emotions-are-extreme-i-d-say-they-are/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) [Browse all 44 Being unhappy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-unhappy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why be unhappy about something if it can be remedied? 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