"Happiness is a virtue, not its reward"

In this quote, thinker Baruch Spinoza is recommending that happiness ought to not be viewed as a goal or a result of our actions, but rather as an ethical quality or virtue in itself. He is highlighting the significance of discovering happiness and contentment in the present minute, rather than constantly pursuing external rewards or accomplishments. According to Spinoza, true happiness originates from within and is not dependent on external aspects. This concept challenges the common belief that happiness is something that can be obtained through external success or product ownerships. Rather, Spinoza motivates us to cultivate happiness as a virtue and a way of living.