“Happiness is a ball after which we run wherever it rolls, and we push it with our feet when it stops.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
quotes
  • August 28, 1749 – March 22, 1832
  • German
  • Poet, playwright, novelist, philosopher, politician
  • His literary works “Faust” and “The Sorrows of Young Werther” had a major impact on world literature.

Quote

“Happiness is a ball after which we run wherever it rolls, and we push it with our feet when it stops.”

Explanation

Goethe uses the metaphor of happiness as a ball that we are constantly chasing, suggesting that it often feels like a fleeting, unpredictable pursuit. We chase happiness when it is rolling in front of us, moving toward things that seem to promise joy or fulfillment. However, when happiness stops or becomes elusive, we try to push it forward, desperately attempting to regain the feeling. This idea highlights the transient nature of happiness and how it often feels like an external force that we must chase or manipulate, rather than something stable or guaranteed. It emphasizes that happiness is not a constant state, but rather something that comes and goes, often beyond our control.

Historically, this idea reflects Goethe’s understanding of the human condition and the impermanence of emotions. During the Romantic period, there was a focus on the fleeting nature of life and emotions, where joy and sorrow were seen as part of the ever-changing human experience. Goethe understood that the pursuit of happiness is often a chase, full of uncertainty and striving, and that true contentment may not always come from external sources, but rather from how we engage with life itself.

In modern contexts, this idea is still relevant in discussions about well-being, mental health, and personal development. Today, there is growing recognition that happiness is not something that can be pursued in a linear way, but something that ebbs and flows. Many people today seek external markers of happiness—such as success, wealth, or relationships—but often find that even when they achieve these, happiness remains elusive. This speaks to the impermanent nature of joy and the importance of contentment with where we are in the present moment, rather than constantly chasing after it.

Goethe’s words remind us that happiness is not something we can chase and control like a ball, but is often an unpredictable part of life. It is a call to reflect on how we approach joy and contentment, recognizing that chasing it constantly may only lead to frustration, while accepting its ebbs and flows may bring a deeper, more sustainable peace.


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Happiness and Pleasure

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