Quotessence
Home / Books / The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

Book by Jonathan Haidt · 5 quotes · People, Life, Morality

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleLifeMoralityEmotionHappinessHomo SapiensPsychologyCheatCooperationEvolutionary PsychologyGivingHumansIfsSelfUltrasocialityWorldAmantes Sunt AmentesAncientAskingAttachment

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom Quotes

“Over and over again, psychologists find that the human mind reacts to bad things more quickly, strongly and persistenly than to equivalent good things. We can't just will ourselves to see everything as good because our minds are wired to find and react to threats, violations, and setbacks.”

MindHappinessPositiveDepressionNegativeGoodBad
Book:The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
Create image

“Happiness is not something that you can find, acquire, or achieve directly. You have to get the conditions right and then wait. Some of those conditions are within you, such as coherence among the parts and levels of your personality. Other conditions require relationships to things beyond you: Just as plants need sun, water, and good soil to thrive, people need love, work, and a connection to something larger. It is worth striving to get the right relationships between yourself and others, between yourself and your work, and between yourself and something larger than yourself. If you get these relationships right, a sense of purpose and meaning will emerge.”

HappinessHappiness Life
Book:The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
Create image

“Those who think money can't buy happiness just don't know where to shop … People would be happier and healthier if they took more time off and spent it with their family and friends, yet America has long been heading in the opposite direction. People would be happier if they reduced their commuting time, even if it meant living in smaller houses, yet American trends are toward even larger houses and ever longer commutes. People would be happier and healthier if they took longer vacations even if that meant earning less, yet vacation times are shrinking in the United States, and in Europe as well. People would be happier, and in the long run and wealthier, if they bought basic functional appliances, automobiles, and wristwatches, and invested the money they saved for future consumption; yet, Americans and in particular spend almost everything they have – and sometimes more – on goods for present consumption, often paying a large premium for designer names and superfluous features.”

HappinessMoneyFamilyFriendsVacationConspicuous ConsumptionCommute
Book:The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
Create image