In light of knowledge attained, the happy achievement seems almost a matter of course, and any intelligent student can grasp it without too much trouble. But the years of anxious searching in the dark, with their intense longing, their alterations of confidence and exhaustion and the final emergence into the light only those who have experienced it can understand it.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the stark contrast between the ease with which the attainment of happiness may seem for those who possess knowledge and understanding, and the arduous journey one must embark upon to reach this state. It suggests that while achieving happiness may seem effortless for the knowledgeable, it is a far more complex and challenging process that involves years of relentless exploration, longing, doubt, weariness, and eventually a breakthrough. This understanding can only be grasped by those who have personally traversed this transformative journey from darkness to enlightenment.