"Happiness in this world, when it comes, comes incidentally. Make it the object of pursuit, and it leads us a wild-goose chase, and is never attained. Follow some other object, and very possibly we may find that we have caught happiness without dreaming of it"
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
About this Quote
This quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne speaks with the idea that real happiness is not something that can be actively pursued. Instead, it is something that concerns us when we least anticipate it. Joy is not something that can be found through a wild-goose chase, however rather something that is discovered when we are focused on something else. It is a reminder that we need to not be so focused on the pursuit of joy, however rather on the pursuit of other goals and objectives. When we concentrate on other things, we might find that we have attained joy without even understanding it. This quote motivates us to concentrate on the journey, instead of the destination, and to value the little moments of pleasure that come our way.
"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"
