Happiness," said he, "must be something solid and permanent, without fear and without uncertainty.
Interpretation
Happiness should be a stable and reliable state, free from fear and doubt.
In this quote, Samuel Johnson emphasizes that true happiness is not merely a fleeting emotion but should be founded on solid and enduring principles. He suggests that for one to experience genuine happiness, it must be devoid of any fears or uncertainties that can undermine that joy, implying that a stable sense of happiness is essential for a fulfilling life.
In practice
During a motivational speaking event about finding joy in life.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all.
Even people who believe they deserve to be happy and have nice things often don't feel worthy once they have them.
Once I thought that if I just had enough in the bank, if I had enough fame, that it would be all right. But I'm a human being like everyone else. I'm not exempt.
Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind.
Happiness consists in frequent repetition of pleasure
I hope we can be happy where we are, be grateful for our blessings-now-here, accept the challenge that is ours and make the most of it, and don't be envious of others. God help us to be grateful.
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