--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's one thing I've learned from…" description: "\"If there's one thing I've learned from traveling, it's that it is definitely more important how you are than where you are. You can say, 'Oh, I hate X ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/viggo-mortensen-1554_cities_if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-from-t_889983.jpg" --- # If there's one thing I've learned from traveling, it's… ![“If there's one thing I've learned from traveling, it's that it is definitely more important how you are than where you are. You can say, 'Oh, I hate X city, I hate that country, or I prefer this city,' but it's a little bit up to you to find some kind of happiness.” quote by Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/viggo-mortensen-1554_cities_if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-from-t_889983.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/viggo-mortensen-1554_cities_if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-from-t_889983.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/viggo-mortensen-1554_cities_if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-from-t_889983.jpg) > “If there's one thing I've learned from traveling, it's that it is definitely more important how you are than where you are. You can say, 'Oh, I hate X city, I hate that country, or I prefer this city,' but it's a little bit up to you to find some kind of happiness.” [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal attitude determines happiness more than location; happiness is a personal choice. **In simple terms:** Your mindset shapes happiness, not place. Key Takeaway Cultivate a positive outlook wherever you are. Themes happiness travel mindset Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - relocation decisions - tourism experiences - expat life Key Concepts subjective well‑being personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift mindset in a new city? - What habits foster lasting happiness? A Different Perspective External circumstances still affect mood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Prefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-prefer-1137440/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [I've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-ve-learned/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Learned Traveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-traveling-1137438/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Prefer City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-city-304653/) [Things i've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-i-ve-learned/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Traveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traveling/) [Traveling Definitely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traveling-definitely-1137439/) [Where you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where-you-are/) ## Related quotes > [The thing I've learned traveling through the United States is that the people in each city are usually awesome, it's generally the 'talking heads'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sieber/the-thing-i-ve-learned-traveling-through-the-united-states-is-that/) [Christopher Sieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-sieber/) > [The fact that I can travel around the world doing what I love is such a blessing. I've learned that traveling is such an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilson/the-fact-that-i-can-travel-around-the-world-doing-what-i-love-is-such/) [Gabriella Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilson/) > [Traveling is definitely something that your average 17-year-old doesn't get to do. One week we're in Japan, one week we're in Australia, one week…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-knowles/traveling-is-definitely-something-that-your-average-17-year-old-doesn/) [Solange Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-knowles/) > [I feel the change. I feel the relationship with New York changing. It's a personal relationship you have with the city when you move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-degraw/i-feel-the-change-i-feel-the-relationship-with-new-york-changing-it-s/) [Brian Degraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-degraw/) > [“I’d learned so much from traveling to familiar places that I figured I’d learn twice as much by going to a place I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-abbey/i-d-learned-so-much-from-traveling-to-familiar-places-that-i-figured/) [Gerry Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-abbey/) > [One of the things I've learned as I've studied the principles in God's Word is this, that God wants us to prosper. But, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gorman/one-of-the-things-i-ve-learned-as-i-ve-studied-the-principles-in-god/) [Mark Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gorman/) > [The thing I've learned is it's good to restrict your palette somewhat. I will try and, say, use two or three instruments on one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thighpaulsandra/the-thing-i-ve-learned-is-it-s-good-to-restrict-your-palette-somewhat/) [Thighpaulsandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thighpaulsandra/) > [One of the things I've learned over the years is that you only do what you can do as an actor. You do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/one-of-the-things-i-ve-learned-over-the-years-is-that-you-only-do/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [One thing I've learned is that I'm not the owner of my talent; I'm the manager of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/one-thing-i-ve-learned-is-that-i-m-not-the-owner-of-my-talent-i-m-the/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [That is one thing I've learned, that it is possible to really understand things at certain points, and not be able to retain them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/that-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-that-it-is-possible-to-really/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [There's a perception that if an artist produces another artist, they're going to imprint on them. But I'm the opposite. I want to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/there-s-a-perception-that-if-an-artist-produces-another-artist-they/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-my-years-on-this-planet-it-s/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-the-way-he-she/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Perhaps the hardest thing I've learned, and still struggle with, is that I don't have to be finished in order to be whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/perhaps-the-hardest-thing-i-ve-learned-and-still-struggle-with-is/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/my-dear-young-cousin-if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-the-eons/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More by Viggo Mortensen > [Speaking more than one language and living in a multicultural family and environment did not seem like anything but what it was: the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/speaking-more-than-one-language-and-living-in-a-multicultural-family/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [We all experience many freakish and unexpected events - you have to be open to suffering a little. The philosopher Schopenhauer talked about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/we-all-experience-many-freakish-and-unexpected-events-you-have-to-be/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Most actors can't make any kind of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-living/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [As far as money goes, there's a saying in Denmark: 'Your last suit doesn't have any pockets.' You can't take it with you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/as-far-as-money-goes-there-s-a-saying-in-denmark-your-last-suit-doesn/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Most movies are lucky to have one moment, one shot that you look at and you always remember that moment and that scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/most-movies-are-lucky-to-have-one-moment-one-shot-that-you-look-at/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I like stories that leave you wanting more, leave you wondering, but don't tell you everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-like-stories-that-leave-you-wanting-more-leave-you-wondering-but/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Usually the characters I play are men of few words, who communicate in non-verbal ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/usually-the-characters-i-play-are-men-of-few-words-who-communicate-in/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [You do need to get lucky, no matter how talented you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/you-do-need-to-get-lucky-no-matter-how-talented-you-are/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [When I was a little boy, I rode, but I didn't own horses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-rode-but-i-didn-t-own-horses/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I realise how important it is to use the time I have. I respect people who want to do that by watching television. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-realise-how-important-it-is-to-use-the-time-i-have-i-respect-people/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [When I land in a country and they ask for 'occupation,' I always just put 'artist.' I think that covers all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/when-i-land-in-a-country-and-they-ask-for-occupation-i-always-just/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I was born in New York but as a baby moved to Venezuela and Argentina. I've also lived in Denmark, where my father's from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-was-born-in-new-york-but-as-a-baby-moved-to-venezuela-and-argentina/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [People are becoming more intimately acquainted with people who are different than them - it's not so unusual anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/people-are-becoming-more-intimately-acquainted-with-people-who-are/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [There might be people out there who wouldn't hire me because they thought I should keep my mouth shut, but I'm not aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/there-might-be-people-out-there-who-wouldn-t-hire-me-because-they/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Bernie Sanders has inspired millions of people in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/bernie-sanders-has-inspired-millions-of-people-in-this-country/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) [Explore all 228 Viggo Mortensen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) ## More Cities quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) [James Cross Giblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cross-giblin/) > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Outside of Paris, there is no hope for the cultured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/outside-of-paris-there-is-no-hope-for-the-cultured/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,153 Cities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there's one thing I've learned from traveling, it's that it is definitely more important how you are than where you are. 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