Quote by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
Happiness must be cultivated. It is like character. It is not a thing to be safely let alone for a moment, or it will run to weeds.
Summary
This quote suggests that happiness is not something that can be passively maintained or achieved effortlessly. Instead, it needs to be nurtured and developed actively, just like one's character. If happiness is neglected or not consciously tended to, it will diminish and give way to negative influences (represented as "weeds" in the quote). Hence, the quote emphasizes the importance of actively cultivating happiness and not taking it for granted, as it requires continuous effort and attention to thrive.