Quote by W. Beran Wolfe, 'How To Be Happy

If we want to know what happiness is we must seek it, not as if it were a part of gold at the end of the rainbow, but among human beings who are living richly and fully the good life. If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double Dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar gold button that has rolled under the cupboard in his bed room. He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of living 24 crowded hours of the day. If you live only for yourself you are always an immediate danger of being bored to death with the repetition of your own views and interests. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellowmen. If your ambition has the momentum of an express train at full speed, if you can no longer stop your mad rush for glory, power, or intellectual supremacy, try to divert your energies into socially useful channels before it is too late.For those who seek the larger happiness and greater effectiveness open to human beings there can be but one philosophy of life, a philosophy of constructive altruism. The truly happy man is always a fighting optimist. Optimism includes not only altruism but also social responsibility, social courage and objectivity. The good life demands a working philosophy as an orientating map of conduct. This is the golden way of life. This is the satisfying life. This is the way to be happy though human.

Summary

This quote emphasizes that true happiness is found not in fleeting material possessions or personal achievements, but in engaging with and contributing to the world around us. It argues that happiness arises from living a fulfilling and purposeful life, where one is actively involved in meaningful activities, relationships, and service to others. The quote suggests that true happiness goes hand in hand with optimism, social responsibility, courage, and objectivity. It encourages individuals to prioritize and nurture connections with others, as well as to redirect their ambitions towards socially beneficial endeavors. Ultimately, the quote proposes constructive altruism as the pathway to a satisfying and genuinely happy life.