We humans can look deep into future and predict what will happen, but then turn around and do nothing about it.

People want to be happy, and all the other things they want are typically meant to be a means to that end.

The secret of happiness is variety, but the secret of variety, like the secret of all spices, is knowing when to use it.

Alas, we think of ourselves as unique entities-minds unlike any others-and thus we often reject the lessons that the emotional experience of others has to teach us.

No one likes to be criticized, of course, but if the things we successfully strive for do not make our future selves happy, or if the things we unsuccessfully avoid do, then it seems reasonable (if somewhat ungracious) for them to cast a disparaging glance backward and wonder what the hell we were thinking.

Happiness refers to feelings, virtue refers to actions, and those actions can cause those feelings. But not necessarily and not exclusively.

Our brain accepts what the eyes see and our eye looks for whatever our brain wants.