Q0122
“Next to worry, probably one of the most potent causes of unhappiness…” — Bertrand Russell (The Conquest of Happiness, Ch. 6)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: The Conquest of Happiness, Ch. 6. Theme: happiness.
English
Next to worry, probably one of the most potent causes of unhappiness is envy.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to The Conquest of Happiness, Ch. 6 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.
Interpretation
Russell ranks envy just below worry among causes of unhappiness, and his reason is structural rather than moral: envy shifts the standard of one's own life outside it, so satisfaction becomes unreachable by any effort of one's own. He treats it as a habit of comparison that can be examined and unlearned, which is why the chapter prescribes attention to one's actual circumstances. The claim follows from his view that happiness depends on interests rather than on possessions.
Why it matters
The mechanism is worth naming: comparison makes your condition a function of someone else's, which puts it permanently out of reach.
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.). Next to worry, probably one of the most potent causes of unhappiness is envy. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0122
MLA: Bertrand Russell. “Next to worry, probably one of the most….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0122.
Chicago: Bertrand Russell. “Next to worry, probably one of the most….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0122.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Next to worry, probably one of the most…”?
The passage is attributed to Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness, Ch. 6. The archive attributes this English wording to The Conquest of Happiness, Ch. 6 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.