40 Philosophy Quotes about Happiness by Famous Philosophers

On this page you will find a list of 40 philosophy quotes about happiness by the most famous philosophers of all time such as Aristotle, Buddha, Kant, Socrates, Seneca, Schiller, Democritus and many more. Only happiness philosophy quotes by actual philosophers have been included along with a short summary of their philosophical perspective on the state of happiness and how to achieve it.

Philosophy Quotes about Happiness From Different Perspectives

Aristotle defined philosophy as "the science that considers truth." However truth is a relative term that is subjective according to your point of view. Here are some paths to happiness that philosophers have suggested in their writings and teaching.

Plato believed, according to his famous quote on happiness, that it is far better to focus on ourselves and not seek happiness from external sources, "the man who makes everything that leads to happiness depend upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily." Plato (from the Republic).

Happiness as a State of Mind and Within Our Control

Happiness has been a topic discussed by philosophers for centuries hence the reason for so many great happiness philosophy quotes. While there are many schools of thought on how to achieve happiness most philosophy is rooted in the idea that happiness is important and something to strive for.

Greek philosophers like Epicurus and Cicero stressed the importance of happiness. They believed that happiness is a state of mind and it is possible to live a happy life even in difficult circumstances.

Happiness as Something Within Our Control

Aristotle underlined the importance of taking charge of your own happiness. He once said “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” He, too, believed that our thoughts created our state of mind and are powerful in shaping our reality when he wrote:

Happiness is a state of mind. It comes from the thoughts you think and the actions you take. So be careful what you think and do, because it will have an impact on your state of mind.
Aristotle

However Seneca argued "there is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will."

Happiness as a Choice

The notion that happiness is a matter of choice has endured and is very relevant in today's modern world. The famous happiness philiosophy quote by William James "we are not born for happiness, but we can make ourselves happy" beautifully captures this idea. You will know from your own life that even a few small changes can make a big difference to your outlook on life.

Pursuit of Happiness is Selfish vs Something Worth Striving For

There is one school of thought on the subject of the philosophy of happiness is that the pursuit of happiness is selfish and that it is through acts of service that we find happiness (and often salvation). For example consider this quote by Francis of Assisi - "For it is in giving that we receive."

Others like Aristotle believe that it's our duty as human beings to strive for feelings of happiness and to live a happy life.

Happiness does not come from doing what you like, but rather liking what you do.
Aristotle

Aristotle saw happiness as a goal worth striving for and the end result of a life well-lived. In the famous happiness Aristotle quote on stoicism (practice of virtue as necessary to achieve happiness) he said, "Happiness is not pleasure, nor is it virtue. It is the exercise of virtue. Happiness cannot be achieved until the end of one's life. Hence it is a goal and not a temporary state."

Eastern philosophy also advocates the idea of that our happiness is an outcome of our choices. Buddha believed that being happy in life depended on what you think. Likewise the famous Dalai Lama quote:

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions” indicates the view that we make our own happiness in life.
Dalai Lama

By studying the great philosophers of the past and their perspectives we can begin to understand that the search for happiness and meaning is universal. Depending on your perspective you can view happiness as something that is created within us or is external to the self and therefore subject to environmental forces and events. Most modern day philosophers are likely to adhere to the belief that it is within our power to create our own happiness. This perspective is certainly the most comforting and the most helpful in terms of self-actualisation and intentional living.

List of Happiness Quotes by Famous Philosophers

Buddha Happiness Quotes

Chinese Philosopher (563 BC - 483 BC)


1. Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are, it solely relies on what you think.
   Buddha





2. There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.
   Buddha




3. Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
   Buddha



4. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow.
   Buddha




Aristotle Happiness Quotes

Greek Philosopher (384 BC - 322 BC)


5. Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.
   Aristotle
   
   
   
   
   
   


6. Happiness depends upon ourselves.
   Aristotle



7. Happiness is the highest good.
   Aristotle



8. Happiness lies in virtuous activity, and perfect happiness lies in the best activity, which is contemplative.
   Aristotle




Henry David Thoreau Quotes on Happiness

American Philosopher (1817 - 1862), Known for Transcendentalism


9. Man is the artificer of his own happiness.
   Henry David Thoreau



10. Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.
    Henry David Thoreau







Immanuel Kant Quotes on Happiness

German Philosopher (1724 - 1804)


11. Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination.
    Immanuel Kant






12. Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.
    Immanuel Kant
    
    
    
    
    

Dalai Lama Quotes on Happiness

Tibetan Monk and Philosopher


13. Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.
    Dalai Lama



14. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
    Dalai Lama








John Stuart Mill Quotes on Happiness

English Philosopher (1806 - 1873)


15. I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them.
    John Stuart Mill
    
    






16. Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so. The only chance is to treat, not happiness, but some end external to it, as the purpose of life.
    John Stuart Mill
    
    




William James Quotes on Happiness

American Philosopher (1842 - 1910)


17. We don’t laugh because we’re happy, we’re happy because we laugh.
    William James






18. The good we do today becomes the happiness of tomorrow.
    William James




19. I don't sing because I'm happy; I'm happy because I sing.
    William James




20. Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.
    William James
    
    



21. How to gain, how to keep, how to recover happiness is in fact for most men at all times the secret motive of all they do, and of all they are willing to endure.
    William James





Socrates Happiness Quotes

Greek Philosopher (470 BC - 399 BC)


22. The secret of happiness, you see is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.
    Socrates






23. Contentment is natural wealth.
    Socrates




Epictetus Quotes on Life and Happiness

Greek Philosopher (Died 135 AD), Known for Stoicism


24. Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.
    Epictetus



25. He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.
    Epictetus



26. There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.
    Epictetus




Seneca Quotes on Stoicism and Happiness

Greek Philosopher (4 BC - 65 AD), Known for Stoicism


27. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.
    Seneca



28. True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing.
    Seneca





Marcus Aurelius Quotes on Life, Happiness (Stoic Quotes)

Roman Philosopher (121 AD - 180 AD)


29. The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.
    Marcus Aurelius



30. Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
    Marcus Aurelius




Other Philosophical Quotes about Happiness

31. Happy he who learns to bear what he cannot change.
    Friedrich Schiller



32. Why should we build our happiness on the opinions of others, when we can find it in our own hearts?
    John-Jacques Rousseau, Genevan Philosopher (1712 - 1778)



33. Happiness is the feeling that power increases — that resistance is being overcome.
    Friedrich Nietzsche, German Philosopher (1844 - 1900)



34. He is happy whom circumstances suit his temper; but he is more excellent who suits his temper to any circumstance..
    David Hume, Scottish Philosopher (1711 - 1776)



35. Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.
    Democritus



36. The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation.
    Jeremy Bentham, English Philosopher (1748 - 1832)



37. Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.
    Bertrand Russell, British Philosopher (1872 - 1970)



38. You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.
    Albert Camus



39. For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson



40. Self-knowledge is no guarantee of happiness, but it is on the side of happiness and can supply the courage to fight for it.
    Simone de Beauvoir



41. Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness.
    George Santayana

If you enjoyed this list of philosophy quotes about happiness from famous philosophers. You might also enjoy my handpicked collection of the 70 very best happiness quotes.

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