"I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy"

This quote by C. S. Lewis suggests that joy is something that is tough to come by and that all other pleasures are merely a replacement for it. He is suggesting that happiness is a special and special feeling that is not quickly attainable. He is suggesting that although we might experience satisfaction in life, it is not the like happiness. Satisfaction is short lived and short-term, while pleasure is something that is more enduring and profound. He is suggesting that happiness is something that is tough to find and that all other enjoyments are merely an alternative to it. This quote encourages us to look for pleasure in our lives and to not go for anything less.