Q0097
“The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide…” — Bertrand Russell (The Conquest of Happiness)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: The Conquest of Happiness. Theme: happiness.
English
The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible, and let your reactions…be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to The Conquest of Happiness and files it under Analytic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) was a British philosopher, logician, and public intellectual who helped found analytic philosophy. With A.
How to read this passage
Greek eudaimonia, Buddhist analyses of craving, utilitarian happiness, and modern well-being research all contest the meaning of a good life. This passage enters that discussion through happiness.
Concepts in this quote
- Happiness
- Happiness—or flourishing—is a central aim in ethics: what makes a life go well, and whether pleasure alone is enough.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Bertrand Russell. (n.d.). The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible, and let your reactions…be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0097
MLA: Bertrand Russell. “The secret of happiness is this: let your….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0097.
Chicago: Bertrand Russell. “The secret of happiness is this: let your….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0097.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The secret of happiness is this: let your…”?
The passage is attributed to Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness. The archive attributes this English wording to The Conquest of Happiness and files it under Analytic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Bertrand Russell mean by happiness?
Greek eudaimonia, Buddhist analyses of craving, utilitarian happiness, and modern well-being research all contest the meaning of a good life. This passage enters that discussion through happiness.