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Happiness is more than a feeling – it’s a mindset, a habit, a daily practice. In a world that often glorifies hustle over harmony, pausing to soak in the simple beauty of life can feel radical. That’s why quotes about being happier resonate so deeply – they give voice to the joy we crave and remind us of life’s brightest truths.
These quotes about happiness short and long, profound and playful, serve as mini pep talks from some of history’s greatest minds. If you’ve ever asked, “What is a quote for happiness?” or needed a dose of happy positive quotes for your mood board, content feed or journal, this is your perfect scroll.
And here’s something even better: you can transform any of these into stunning visuals with Picsart’s Quote Maker. It’s never been easier to design and share your favorite mantras as digital art, social media posts, or printable inspiration.
What is a quote for happiness?
A happiness quote isn’t just something you read – it’s something that sticks. The best ones are short, honest and easy to remember. They’re the kind of words that echo in your mind when you need a reset, a smile or a shift in perspective.
While everyone defines happiness differently, there are universal truths that connect us. From ancient philosophers to modern icons, these quotes remind us that happiness is never out of reach – it’s often just a new thought away.
Want something even more personalized? Try the AI Quote Generator from Picsart. You’ll get custom quotes tailored to your mood, niche or theme – perfect for creators and content marketers looking for originality on demand.
60 quotes about being happier
Below you’ll find quotes grouped by theme—from timeless wisdom to creative musings, short and sweet lines, to playful takes on joy. Keep reading for tips on how to turn your favorites into eye-catching visuals.
1 – 15: Classic and timeless happiness quotes
- “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” — Aristotle
- “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” — Dalai Lama
- “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
- “For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.” — George Sand
- “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” — Albert Schweitzer
- “To be kind to all, to like many and love a few, to be needed and wanted by those we love, is certainly the nearest we can come to happiness.” — Mary Stuart
- “The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.” — James M. Barrie
- “True happiness arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one’s self.” — Joseph Addison
- “The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up.” — Mark Twain
- “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama
- “Joy is not in things; it is in us.” — Richard Wagner
- “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.” — Albert Einstein
- “It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” — Charles Spurgeon
16 – 30: Quotes about happiness, short and sweet
Short quotes are powerful because they’re punchy, memorable and perfect for social media.
- “Happiness is a warm puppy.” — Charles M. Schulz
- “Smile, breathe, and go slowly.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
- “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” — Omar Khayyam
- “If you want to be happy, be.” — Leo Tolstoy
- “Happiness looks good on you.” — Unknown
- “Happy mind, happy life.” — Unknown
- “Enjoy the little things.” — Robert Brault
- “Happiness is homemade.” — Unknown
- “Start each day with a grateful heart.” — Unknown
- “Collect moments, not things.” — Unknown
- “Don’t wait for everything to be perfect to be happy.” — Unknown
- “Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” — Karl Barth
- “You deserve to be happy.” — Unknown
- “Live more, worry less.” — Unknown
- “Be so happy that, when others look at you, they become happy too.” — Unknown
31 – 45: Creative minds on happiness
Creatives often view happiness through a unique lens – deeply personal and wildly expressive.
- “Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.” — Frank Tyger
- “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy.” — Marcel Proust
- “The mere sense of living is joy enough.” — Emily Dickinson
- “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” — Pablo Picasso
- “To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” — David Viscott
- “Dance. Smile. Giggle. Marvel. Trust. Hope. Love. Wish. Believe. Most of all, enjoy every moment.” — Unknown
- “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” — Albert Einstein
- “Happiness is the natural flower of duty.” — Phillips Brooks
- “A good laugh is sunshine in the house.” — William Makepeace Thackeray
- “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences.” — Christopher McCandless
- “Color outside the lines and make your own kind of beautiful.” — Unknown
- “Live in color, love in full bloom.” — Unknown
- “Happiness is an inside job.” — Unknown
- “Design a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside.” — Unknown
- “You do not find the happy life. You make it.” — Camilla Eyring Kimball
46 – 60: Funny and lighthearted happiness quotes
Not all happiness quotes need to be serious. Sometimes humor is the shortcut to joy.
- “My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far, I’ve finished two bags of M&M’s and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” — Dave Barry
- “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” — Benjamin Franklin
- “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” — George Burns
- “I’m too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener.” — Unknown
- “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” — Charlie Chaplin
- “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?” — Steven Wright
- “Happiness is waking up, looking at the clock and finding that you still have two hours left to sleep.” — Charles M. Schulz
- “I finally discovered what’s wrong with my brain: on the left side, there’s nothing right, and on the right side, there’s nothing left.” — Unknown
- “Chocolate doesn’t ask questions. Chocolate understands.” — Unknown
- “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” — Unknown
- “Be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.” — Unknown
- “If you think sunshine brings you happiness, you haven’t danced in the rain.” — Unknown
- “Some people grin and bear it. Others smile and do it.” — Unknown
- “Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth.” — Unknown
- “Happiness is like peeing your pants. Everyone can see it, but only you can feel its warmth.” — Unknown
How to turn quotes into creative visuals
You’ve got the words – now make them visual. Start with Picsart’s Quote Templates, where you can drag, drop, and design instantly. Choose from a library of editable layouts, perfect for Instagram stories, Reels, Pinterest, and more.
Want to make a statement? Use the Quote Maker and Quote Poster Maker to print your favorite quotes on posters, flyers, or merch. You can even combine images, textures and color palettes that reflect your brand or mood.
The best part? These tools don’t require any design experience. And with Picsart’s AI features, your visuals will look professionally polished.
Final thoughts: Make joy your aesthetic
These 60 quotes about happiness are more than just feel-good lines – they’re tools for reframing your mindset and resetting your day. Let them be part of your creative routine. Use them as captions, affirmation cards, vision board elements or part of a content calendar.
The next time you catch yourself searching for a pick-me-up, revisit this list or generate your own inspiration with the AI Quote Generator. With the right tools and the right mindset, joy isn’t something you wait for – it’s something you make.
