"Happiness consists in activity. It is a running steam, not a stagnant pool"
- John Mason Good
About this Quote
This quote by John Mason Good talks to the suggestion that joy is not something that can be achieved via passivity, yet instead via energetic involvement in life. Good suggests that joy is like a running stream, regularly moving as well as ever-changing. This implies that in order to be absolutely pleased, one need to be regularly engaged in activities that bring happiness as well as fulfillment. This might indicate anything from pursuing a pastime or profession, to taking part in meaningful connections, to just taking the time to appreciate the beauty of life. Good's quote motivates us to take an active function in our own joy, instead of waiting for it to come to us. Joy is something that needs to be proactively pursued and supported in order to be fully recognized.
"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"
