What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Keeping busy can distract you from feelings of unhappiness.
This quote by George Bernard Shaw suggests that if we fill our lives with enough activity, we may not have the time or capacity to reflect on our happiness, potentially avoiding the discomfort of feeling unhappy. It implies that busyness can serve as a coping mechanism, and that sometimes ignorance of our feelings may lead to a more pleasant existence.
Themes
HappinessLeisureBusynessState Of MindContentment
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a speech about mental health and the importance of staying active.
More from George Bernard Shaw
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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