Quote by Viktor E. Frankl

To the European, it is a characteristic of the American culture that, again and again, one is commanded and ordered to 'be happy.' But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue. One must have a reason to 'be happy.' Once the reason is found, however, one becomes happy automatically. As we see, a human being is not one in pursuit of happiness but rather in search of a reason to become happy, last but not least, through actualizing the potential meaning inherent and dormant in a given situation.


To the European, it is a characteristic of the American cult

Summary

This quote highlights a cultural difference between Europeans and Americans. The European view is that Americans are frequently commanded to "be happy," while Europeans believe that happiness cannot be forced or pursued. Instead, it must naturally emerge from finding a reason to be happy in a given situation. According to this perspective, individuals are not constantly chasing happiness, but rather seeking and actualizing the potential meaning within their circumstances to ultimately find happiness.

By Viktor E. Frankl
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