Socrates

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

To fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise, without being wise: for it is to think that we know what we do not know. For anything that men can tell, death may be the greatest good that can happen to them: but they fear it as if they know quite well that it was the greatest of evils. And what is this but that shameful ignorance of thinking that we know what we do not know?

As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will, he will be sure to repent.

All men’s souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine.

A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.

False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.

Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.

I think happiness is love.

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.

I have to plan my happiness. That’s the thing, we think happiness just happens and it can, but you’ve got to work in some happiness too.

Happiness and unhappiness are in the heart and spirit of each one of us: If you feel unhappy, then place yourself above that and act so that your happiness does not get to be dependent on anything.

The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.

Whether happiness may come or not, one should try and prepare one’s self to do without it.

If only we’d stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time.

Happiness, wealth, and success are the byproducts of goal setting; they cannot be the goals themselves.

Choose happiness, not success, as your life’s goal. If you become successful but aren’t happy, then what is the point?

The key to being happy is knowing you have the power to choose what to except and what to let go.

I’ve found happiness in my work, but not in my private life. I had to take from my private life to make my public life successful. I had to make a lot of sacrifices. I was happy in Cardiff. I had a great time. Every Thursday there was a factory club; darts, dancing. I was happy until success entered my life, and then it was all downhill. Success spoilt me. It took away my happiness. My success became a barrier with my family. They couldn’t relate to me, and I couldn’t relate to them.

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.

You traverse the world in search of happiness, which is within the reach of every man. A contented mind confers it on all.

It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.