35 Happy Quotes to Brighten Your Day
Updated: Oct. 08, 2021Inspire yourself with happy quotes from notable people who've all attempted to find the secret to happiness.
Happy quote #1: On compassion
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” —The Dalai Lama. Here are some more quotes about compassion that inspire you to be kind.
Happy quote #3: On not taking yourself too seriously
“I’ve always thought people would find a lot more pleasure in their routines if they burst into song at significant moments.” —John Barrowman, actor. If these happy quotes don’t do it for you, there are small changes you can make to make yourself happy at home.
Happy quote #4: On the “key” to happiness
“People say that money isn’t the key to happiness, but I always figured if you have enough money, you can have a key made.” —Joan Rivers, comedian.
Happy quote #5: On knowing oneself
“I think self-knowledge is a key to happiness. We can build happy lives only on the foundation of our own natures, our own values, and our own interests.” —Gretchen Rubin, author. Here are a few simple tips that can bring you happiness no matter what stage of life you’re in.
Happy quote #6: On not keeping score
“Personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition or achievement. Your qualifications are not your life.” —J. K. Rowling, novelist.
Happy quote #7: On self-pity
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself and you will be happy.” —Stephen Fry, actor and writer. Find out some more things happy people never, ever do (so you shouldn’t either).
Happy quote #8: On following kids’ example
“Children are happy because they don’t have a file in their minds called ‘all the things that could go wrong.'” —Marianne Williamson, spiritual teacher. This is the one secret you need to live a fulfilling life.
Happy quote #9: On smiling
“I’ve got nothing to do today but smile.” —Paul Simon, musician. Here’s the reason why smiling is actually contagious.
Happy quote #10: On the good and the bad
“I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.” —The Dalai Lama. Read some more of the Dalai Lama’s wisest words.
Happy quote #12: On recognizing happiness
“I often surprise myself by saying, ‘Wow, this is it. I guess I’m happy. I got a home I love. A career that I love. I’m even feeling more and more at peace with myself.’ If there’s something else to happiness, let me know. I’m ambitious for that, too.” —Harrison Ford, actor. Here are some habits of happy families that you’ll definitely want to start picking up on.
Happy quote #13: On being body positive
“Be happy in your body. It’s the only one you’ve got, so you might as well like it.” —Keira Knightley, actress
Happy quote #14: On finding light in the dark
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” —Steven Kloves, screenwriter. Just like these happy quotes, these 27 hope quotes will instantly lift you up.
Happy quote #15: On expectations
“The good news is that going blind is not going to make you as unhappy as you think it will. The bad news is that winning the lottery will not make you as happy as you expect.” —Daniel Gilbert, social psychologist
Happy quote #16: On the bad making the good better
“In order to have great happiness, you have to have great pain and unhappiness—otherwise, how would you know when you’re happy?” —Leslie Caron, actress and dancer. Even these happy quotes acknowledge that no one can be happy all the time, and that’s OK.
Happy quote #18: On the little things
“Maybe happiness didn’t have to be about the big sweeping circumstances, about having everything in your life in place. Maybe it was about stringing together a bunch of small pleasures.” —Ann Brashares, author. Find out the 24 things happy people never forget to do.
Happy quote #19: On happiness being complicated
“Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.” —Joanne Harris, author
Happy quote #20: On high expectations
“A mathematical formula for happiness: reality divided by expectations. There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality or lower your expectations.” —Jodi Picoult, author. Find out if your state is one of the happiest states in America.
Happy quote #21: On a problem-free life
“Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.” —Steve Maraboli, speaker and author
Happy quote #22: On balance
“You can’t be really happy unless you’re unhappy sometimes.” —Lauren Oliver, author
Happy quote #23: On dealing with problems
“A solved problem creates two new problems, and the best prescription for happy living is not to solve any more problems.” —Russell Baker, humorist. Keep the happiness going with some more uplifting, happy quotes that will stay with you.
Happy quote #24: On letting go
“One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.” —Rita Mae Brown, feminist author
Happy quote #25: On being in charge of your own happiness
“If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you do have a problem.” —Richard Bach, author.
Happy quote #26: On moving on
“Every day is a new day, and you’ll never be able to find happiness if you don’t move on.” —Carrie Underwood, singer. Here are a few lessons about living from people who spend time with the dying.
Happy quote #27: On finding fulfillment
“If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the world belongs to you.” —Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher. This is the one secret you need to lead a fulfilling life.
Happy quote #31: On the meaning of life
“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” —Albert Camus, author. Who doesn’t love a good happy quote? Here’s how to find more meaning in your life, according to 5 people who did.
Happy quote #32: On being grateful
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” —Marcel Proust, author. A teacher told her students to draw what they were thankful for—this was one student’s moving response.
Happy quote #33: On a merrier world
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” —J.R.R. Tolkien, author. For more travel inspiration, here are 23 inspiring travel quotes that will feed your wanderlust.
