The Happiness Equation Quotes & Sayings

H = L + F + G
Dedicated to those of us in need of a mathematical equation to explain the key to happiness in life.
Simply put, it means Happiness = Look for Good
Ie. Look for the good in life ... the silver lining in each of our experiences. — Lee Bice-Matheson

Everyone knew that if you divided reality by expectation, you got a happiness quotient. But when you invert the equation - expectation divided by reality - you didn't get the opposite of happiness. What you got, Lewis realized, was hope. — Jodi Picoult

Why hadn't he realized this before? Everyone knew that if you divided reality
by expectation, you got a happiness quotient. But when you inverted the equation-expectation
divided by reality-you didn't get the opposite of happiness. What you got, Lewis realized, was hope.
Pure logic: Assuming reality was constant, expectation had to be greater than reality to create
optimism. On the other hand, a pessimist was someone with expectations lower than reality, a
fraction of diminishing returns. The human condition meant that this number approached zero
without reaching it-you never really completely gave up hope; it might come flooding back at any
provocation. — Jodi Picoult

I'm feeling really hopeful about it, like maybe I actually have a chance to get better. To be happy. It's funny, I just realized that my whole life, the whole time I've been trying to be perfect, I never once considered happiness as part of the equation. I guess it seemed so impossible I couldn't even let myself fantasize about it. But now, I don't know, things feel different somehow. Like impossible things might not be so impossible. — Amy Reed

Happiness just wasn't part of the job description back then. You tried to find a helpmate to keep the cold wind and dogs at bay. Happiness just wasn't part of the equation. Survival was. — Robin Green

Like how there's this optimal money/happiness equation. Once you pass a certain amount of household income, life isn't any better. Apparently, money can't buy happiness, or it does, but it costs less than you imagined it would. — Catherine McKenzie

Our society's values are being corrupted by advertising's insistence on the equation:
youth equals popularity, popularity equals success, success equals happiness. — John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher

From time to time we may all face a hardship that is inescapable. If there's nothing you can do to change your current circumstance, then cancel the surrounding environment out of your Happiness Equation and solve the equation by using the rest of your life. When — Mo Gawdat

I look at the hundreds of algebra problems facing me in the next three days.
And here I thought I'd figured out the equation to my happiness. — Elizabeth Eulberg

That story is proof of the theorem that then as today in Chicago, the mysterious equation of whiskey plus music equals what can only be called happiness. — Sarah Vowell

A simple equation for the production of successful art work is lots of reference material plus lots of art supplies equals lots of painting happiness. — Robert Genn

Do not collect passion into the equation. It is a dangerous foe, Theodora, like keeping a lion in the garden. It might seem safe enough, but it might well destroy you. No, do not yearn for passion. Ask instead for contentment, happiness. Those are to be wished for. — Deanna Raybourn

We, however, have all kinds of different ideas about what happiness is. Some must go bungee jumping to experience a rush of joy, while others find bliss staying home. Some are happy in a concert hall, listening to classical music, while children on a playground could be music to the ears of others. Some people experience elation when they solve a complicated equation, while for others a cancelled math class is a happy childhood memory. — Haim Shapira