Ralph Waldo Emerson

In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.

The results of life are uncalculated and uncalculable. The years teach much which the days never know. The persons who compose our company, converse, and come and go, and design and execute many things, and somewhat comes of it all, but an unlooked for result. The individual is always mistaken. He designed many things, and drew in other persons as coadjutors, quarrelled with some or all, blundered much, and something is done; all are a little advanced, but the individual is always mistaken. It turns out somewhat new, and very unlike what he promised himself.

For what avail the plough or sail, Or land or life, if freedom fail?

Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.

Wherever work is done, victory is attained.

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.

The unhappiest man on earth is the one who has nothing to do.

Don’t worry, be happy!

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

Anybody who thinks money will make you happy, hasn’t got money.

Happiness is an allegory, unhappiness a story.

The key to being happy is knowing you have the power to choose what to except and what to let go.

If you are not happy every morning when you get up, leave for work, or start to work at home, and are not enthusiastic about doing that, you will not be successful.

If only we’d stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time.

I think happiness is love.

A happy life is just a string of happy moments. But most people don’t allow the happy moment, because they’re so busy trying to get a happy life.

One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.

They’ve got no idea what happiness is, they don’t know that without this love there is no happiness or unhappiness for us–there is no life.

What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?

While I am opposed to all orthodox creeds, I have a creed myself; and my creed is this. Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so. This creed is somewhat short, but it is long enough for this life, strong enough for this world. If there is another world, when we get there we can make another creed.

Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes.