Uncertainty is where things happen. It is where the opportunities - for success, for happiness, for really living - are waiting.
Oliver BurkemanRead
Ask yourself whether you are happy', observed the philosopher John Stuart Mill, 'and you cease to be so.' At best, it would appear, happiness can only be glimpsed out of the corner of an eye, not stared at directly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Happiness is elusive and cannot be directly pursued; it often requires a more indirect approach to be experienced.
The quote suggests that the act of explicitly questioning our happiness can paradoxically detract from the experience of being happy. Philosopher John Stuart Mill's observation implies that happiness is a fleeting feeling that tends to be more accessible when we are not fixated on it, as it is best found in the moments of life rather than in the pursuit of verification.
Themes
HappinessPhilosophyElusivenessMomentExperience
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about finding joy in life rather than chasing it.
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