Quote by Ursula K. Le Guin
I certainly wasn't happy. Happiness has to do with reason, and only reason earns it. What I was given was the thing you can't earn, and can't keep, and often don't even recognize at the time I mean joy.
Summary
This quote highlights the distinction between happiness and joy. The speaker acknowledges that they were not happy, as true happiness is linked to reasoning and achievement. However, they encountered something different - joy. Joy is described as a gift that cannot be acquired through effort or maintained consistently. It often goes unnoticed or underestimated in the moment. The quote implies that joy is a separate and unique emotional experience, distinct from happiness.