"But O, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes"
- William Shakespeare
About this Quote
This quote by William Shakespeare is a poignant observation about the nature of joy. One may take a look at someone else's life and see all the good things they have: wealth, success, a caring family, and so on. But to do so is to miss the much deeper fact of happiness, which is that it should originate from within oneself. Taking a look at another person's life and wishing it were one's own is to miss out on the point entirely; real joy can not be found by comparing oneself to others. Rather, it should be found through self-reflection and a mindful effort to live a life of purpose, significance, and joy.
"The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom"
