A definition of Happiness

**arthart** · 22 September 2012, 06:31 PM

L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology Religion, had these two things to say about happiness:
1) from a lecture given in 1954: Happiness is not itself an emotion. It is a word which states a condition, and the anatomy of that condition is interest. Happiness, you could say, is the overcoming of not unknowable obstacles toward a known goal.
2) from a policy letter he wrote on the 3rd of April 1972: Happiness comes from self-determinism, production and pride. Happiness is power and power is being able to do what one is doing when one is doing it.

**Big Frank** · 22 September 2012, 06:59 PM

I would take with a pinch of salt anything spouted by a fraudster, embezzler and outright liar.

But that doesn't mean he didn't write some good science fiction stories

**Johnmoglas** · 03 October 2012, 06:13 PM

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Mahatma Gandhi

**SandMulls** · 05 October 2012, 02:39 AM

Happiness is an abstract word. It's a combination of what you feel and what you think. If you say that you are happy just because you want to believe you are, but in really, you don't feel it at all, then you can't really say that you are happy. Basically, I believe it is the ultimate of what we feel and think. It's like despite of the troubles that you face (bills, children, work, etc.), there will be times that you can smile and be true to yourself and say, "I'm happy!"

**wizard509** · 05 October 2012, 09:49 PM

Happiness is clowning around with you guys.

**Rik** · 05 October 2012, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by wizard509

Happiness is clowning around with you guys.

You're one of the few, who does.

**iamtheblues** · 06 October 2012, 05:43 AM

A sweeping generalization, Rik. I might look like a miserable old git, but on the inside, I'm as "Happy as Larry". (quaint old expression)
Bob.

**jon404** · 06 October 2012, 06:27 AM

Happiness -- a life of ease and pleasure, an absence of pain and suffering. A home and car, paid for, no mortgages or loans. No other debts, some money in the bank, and having a little more to live on than expenses. Friends and family. A job that matches your talents, that you like most of the time.

Beyond the above, everything else is icing on the cake.