"The important question is not, what will yield to man a few scattered pleasures, but what will render his life happy on the whole amount"
- Joseph Addison
About this Quote
This quote by Joseph Addison speaks to the importance of looking beyond the temporary enjoyments of life and also instead focusing on what will certainly bring true and long-term joy. He suggests that it is not enough to merely seek a few scattered minutes of satisfaction, however rather to pursue a life that mores than happy on the whole. This suggests that real joy is not found in fleeting minutes of happiness, however instead in a life that is loaded with contentment as well as fulfillment. Addison encourages us to think past the immediate as well as to concentrate on what will bring us real and also lasting joy. He reminds us that it is not enough to simply choose a couple of scattered enjoyments, but rather to pursue a life that mores than happy overall.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"