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Quote by Maurice Maeterlinck

“We should tell ourselves once and for all that it is the first duty of the soul to become as happy, complete, independent, and great as lies in its power. To this end we may sacrifice even the passion for sacrifice, for sacrifice never should be the means of ennoblement, but only the sign of being ennobled.”

Quote by Maurice Maeterlinck

Work

Wisdom and Destiny: Works of Maeterlinck

This compilation includes various essays and plays that explore themes of destiny, the human condition, and the mysteries of existence, showcasing Maeterlinck's distinctive style of poetic prose and metaphysical inquiry. more

Author

Maurice Maeterlinck
Maurice Maeterlinck

Maurice Maeterlinck, born on August 29, 1862, and died on May 6, 1949, was a renowned Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist. He is best known for his symbolism and symbolic drama, which deeply explored themes such as life, death, religion, and the universe. Maeterlinck's works have had a profound impact on 20th-century literature. more

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“So what is happiness? I am sure this question will be asked through the ages. And I doubt there is one answer for all people. Like heaven and hell, one person's happiness can be another person's unhappiness, which is why I'm not attempting to tell you what to do to find your happiness. I have enough trouble finding and hanging onto my own true happiness.”

“Happiness does not come quickly. It is not conferred by any single event, however exciting or comforting or satisfying the event may be. It cannot be purchased, whatever the allure of the next, the newest, the brightest, the best. Happiness, like Carl Sandburg's fog, "comes on little cat feet," often silently, often without our knowing it, too often without our noticing.”

“All real and wholesome enjoyments possible to people have been just as possible to them since first they were made of the earth as they are now; and they are possible to them chiefly in peace. To watch the corn grow, and the blossoms set; to draw hard breath over plowshare or spade; to read, to think, to love, to hope: these are the things that make people happy.”

“Who are the happiest people on earth? A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well done. A little child building sand castles. A mother, after a busy day, bathing her baby. A doctor who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation, and saved a human life. Happiness lies in a constructive job well done. Get your happiness out of your work or you will never know what happiness is.”