--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our possibilities of happiness are…" description: "\"Our possibilities of happiness are already restricted by our constitution. Unhappiness is much less difficult to experience. We are threatened with suf..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/sigmund-freud-360_anxiety_our-possibilities-of-happiness-are-alrea_432742.jpg" --- # Our possibilities of happiness are already restricted by… ![“Our possibilities of happiness are already restricted by our constitution. Unhappiness is much less difficult to experience. We are threatened with suffering from three directions: from our own body, which is doomed to decay and dissolution and which cannot even do without pain and anxiety as…” quote by Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/sigmund-freud-360_anxiety_our-possibilities-of-happiness-are-alrea_432742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/sigmund-freud-360_anxiety_our-possibilities-of-happiness-are-alrea_432742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/sigmund-freud-360_anxiety_our-possibilities-of-happiness-are-alrea_432742.jpg) > “Our possibilities of happiness are already restricted by our constitution. Unhappiness is much less difficult to experience. We are threatened with suffering from three directions: from our own body, which is doomed to decay and dissolution and which cannot even do without pain and anxiety as warning signals; from the external world, which may rage against us with overwhelming and merciless forces of destruction; and finally from our relations to other men. The suffering which comes from this last source is perhaps more painful to us than any other.” [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human suffering stems from bodily decay, external chaos, and especially painful interpersonal conflicts. **In simple terms:** Suffering arises from body, world, and relationships, especially the latter. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner resilience and compassionate relationships. Themes suffering existence relationships psychology Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - health crises - war - family disputes Key Concepts mortality social conflict anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How do you cope with relational pain? - What practices reduce anxiety from external threats? A Different Perspective Interpersonal pain can be mitigated by personal insight and empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-unhappiness-3811254/) [Decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Restricted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-restricted-3811253/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Overwhelming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelming/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Signals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signals/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Threatened Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened-suffering-262120/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) [Unhappiness Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness-difficult-3811252/) [Warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warning/) [Without pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-pain/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“we are threatened with suffering from three directions: from our body, which is doomed to decay..., from the external world which may rage against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/we-are-threatened-with-suffering-from-three-directions-from-our-body/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“I made spasmodic efforts to work, assuring myself that once I began working I would forget her. 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For if truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/and-indeed-nothing-but-the-most-determined-scepticism-along-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [How you educate the people around you, what steps you take toward making it better, what sacrifices you make. The equation of life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/how-you-educate-the-people-around-you-what-steps-you-take-toward/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [The higher animals get their teeth without pain or inconvenience. 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A momentary pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/actually-the-substitution-of-the-reality-principle-for-the-pleasure/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/dreams-are-often-most-profound-when-they-seem-the-most-crazy/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Against the suffering which may come upon one from human relationships the readiest safeguard is voluntary isolation, keeping oneself aloof from other people. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/against-the-suffering-which-may-come-upon-one-from-human/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [There is to my mind no doubt that the concept of beautiful had its roots in sexual excitation and that its original meaning was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/there-is-to-my-mind-no-doubt-that-the-concept-of-beautiful-had-its/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [The voice of the intellect is soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing. Ultimately, after endless rebuffs, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-voice-of-the-intellect-is-soft-one-but-it-does-not-rest-until-it/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) [Explore all 608 Sigmund Freud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. 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If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. 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