Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get. — W. P. Kinsella
—What lingers after this line?
Definition of Success
This quote illustrates that success is about achieving your goals and desires. It implies a pursuit and attainment of specific objectives that you have set for yourself.
Concept of Happiness
Happiness, on the other hand, is described as being content with what you have. It focuses on appreciating and valuing your current circumstances and possessions.
Distinction Between Success and Happiness
The quote draws a clear distinction between the external achievements (success) and internal satisfaction (happiness). It suggests that one can achieve success without finding true happiness.
Interrelationship of Success and Happiness
It implies that true fulfillment comes not only from achieving your goals but also from finding joy in those achievements. Happiness is portrayed as the peaceful acceptance and enjoyment of what life has provided, whether or not it aligns with original desires.
Philosophical Perspective
From a philosophical standpoint, the quote touches on the themes of desire and contentment. It encourages an introspective look at one's life to understand that contentment can often be a more sustainable and enduring state than the continuous pursuit of success.
W. P. Kinsella’s Background
W. P. Kinsella, a Canadian author known for his books about baseball and Native American culture, often explored themes of desire, fulfillment, and the human condition in his writings. This quote reflects his literary focus on what it means to lead a meaningful life.
Recommended Reading
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
One-minute reflection
What feeling does this quote bring up for you?
Related Quotes
6 selectedThe secret of happiness is not always doing what you want, but always wanting what you do. - Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
This quote redefines happiness as a state of contentment that comes from cultivating a positive attitude toward one's actions rather than always striving to do exactly what one desires.
Read full interpretation →The secret of happiness is not always doing what you want, but always wanting what you do. - Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
This quote emphasizes the importance of finding contentment and acceptance in one's current circumstances. Happiness is derived not from always pursuing desires but from valuing and appreciating what one is already engag...
Read full interpretation →To do a common thing uncommonly well brings success. — Henry J. Heinz
Henry J. Heinz
Henry J. Heinz turns attention away from flashy innovation and toward a quieter truth: success often begins with ordinary work done at an extraordinary standard.
Read full interpretation →The secret of happiness is to admire without desiring. — Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg’s line reframes happiness as an attitude rather than an acquisition. To admire without desiring means recognizing beauty, excellence, or joy in the world without immediately trying to possess it.
Read full interpretation →Success isn't complicated. It's just not convenient. — Frank Sonnenberg
Frank Sonnenberg
At first glance, Frank Sonnenberg’s line separates two ideas people often confuse: complexity and difficulty. Success, he suggests, is rarely a mystery.
Read full interpretation →The slower the living, the greater the sense of fullness and satisfaction. — Ann Voskamp
Ann Voskamp
Ann Voskamp’s line proposes a quiet reversal of modern values: instead of equating a full life with a crowded schedule, she links fullness to slowness. At first glance, this seems countercultural, even impractical, becau...
Read full interpretation →More From Author
More from W. P. Kinsella →