Best quotes about Happiness Vs Success

Best Happiness Vs Success Quotes

Happiness Vs Success By Patrick Wright01/05/2026
In a world where success is often touted as the ultimate goal, it's crucial to explore the nuanced relationship between happiness and success. The best Happiness Vs Success quotes not only inspire but also provoke deep thought about what truly matters in life. This curated collection delves into various aspects of this relationship, including how one can achieve Success Without Happiness, or conversely, how Happiness Leads to Success. It's a journey through the labyrinth of success and happiness as by-products, balance and contentment, personal fulfillment and joy, and even how success is defined differently for each individual.

Happiness Vs Success

In a world where success is often touted as the ultimate goal, it's crucial to explore the nuanced relationship between happiness and success. The best Happiness Vs Success quotes not only inspire but also provoke deep thought about what truly matters in life. This curated collection delves into various aspects of this relationship, including how one can achieve Success Without Happiness, or conversely, how Happiness Leads to Success. It's a journey through the labyrinth of success and happiness as by-products, balance and contentment, personal fulfillment and joy, and even how success is defined differently for each individual.

Dive into this treasury of wisdom that offers not only inspiration but also actionable insights into aligning your pursuit of success with genuine happiness. From understanding Success as an Inner Quality to recognizing how success can be redefined through service, these quotes encapsulate the essence of finding meaning and satisfaction beyond mere achievements. Whether you're navigating the complexities of personal fulfillment or seeking a deeper connection between your journey and inner peace, this collection offers a wealth of perspectives.

Explore these themes within the Happiness Vs Success collection, where each quote serves as a beacon guiding you towards a more balanced and fulfilling life. Discover how leading a life of service can be both a source of success and happiness, or how focusing on the journey itself rather than just the destination can bring about profound joy. Whether you are seeking to redefine your own path to success or simply to gain deeper insights into these concepts, this collection is your gateway to profound Happiness Vs Success wisdom and inspiration.

Table of Contents

Success Without Happiness

Achieving success is often pursued as a pathway to happiness, yet the two are not always aligned. This section explores how one can attain significant success while feeling unfulfilled, highlighting the nuanced relationship between success and true happiness through profound insights from notable figures.

Success without happiness and health is not success. - Peter Jumrukovski

"Success without happiness and health is not success."

— Peter Jumrukovski

"Success makes me happy, but it doesn’t give me peace. Because I do believe that success is not enough for our cause. We are born to struggle and nothing must deceive us."

— M.F. Moonzajer

"Success does not bring happiness. Success brings success."

— Joanie Holzer Schirm

"Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get......."

— Moywaywa

He kept looking for new experiences, and though he was very successful at everything he attempted, it did not bring him happiness. Remember this, success alone does not bring happiness. Nor does failure have to bring unhappiness. - Rohinton Mistry

"He kept looking for new experiences, and though he was very successful at everything he attempted, it did not bring him happiness. Remember this, success alone does not bring happiness. Nor does failure have to bring unhappiness."

— Rohinton Mistry

"When all is said and done, success without happiness is the worst kind of failure."

— Louis Binstock

""

— E. W. Howe

"This is true enough, but success is the next best thing to happiness, and if you can't be happy as a success, it's very unlikely that you would find a deeper, truer happiness in failure."

— Michael Korda

"Success is the next best thing to happiness, and if you can't be happy as a success, it's very unlikely that you would find a deeper, truer happiness in failure."

— Michael Korda

I have seen business moguls achieve their ultimate goals but still live in frustration, worry, and fear. What's preventing these successful people for being happy? The answer is they have focused only on achievement and not fulfillment. Extraordinary accomplishment does not guarantee extraordinary joy, happiness, love, and a sense of meaning. These two skill sets feed off each other, and make me believe that success without fulfillment is failure. - Tony Robbins

"I have seen business moguls achieve their ultimate goals but still live in frustration, worry, and fear. What's preventing these successful people for being happy? The answer is they have focused only on achievement and not fulfillment. Extraordinary accomplishment does not guarantee extraordinary joy, happiness, love, and a sense of meaning. These two skill sets feed off each other, and make me believe that success without fulfillment is failure."

— Tony Robbins

"Success without happiness is failure."

— Tony Robbins

"Success doesn’t necessarily mean happiness."

— Ben Stiller

Happiness Leads to Success

In the debate between happiness and success, one perspective argues that it is not success alone but genuine happiness that paves the way to achieving significant milestones. This notion challenges conventional wisdom by suggesting that a positive mindset and emotional well-being are foundational in fostering the conditions necessary for success. The following quotes illuminate how cultivating happiness can be a powerful catalyst for personal and professional achievements.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. - Albert Schweitzer

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."

— Albert Schweitzer

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."

— Albert Schweitzer

"Most people chase success at work, thinking that will make them happy. The truth is that happiness at work will make you successful."

— Alexander Kjerulf

"We become more successful when we are happier and more positive."

— Shawn Achor

Many assume my business success has brought me happiness. But the way I see it, I am successful because I am happy. - Richard Branson

"Many assume my business success has brought me happiness. But the way I see it, I am successful because I am happy."

— Richard Branson

"It is wise to keep in mind that no success or failure is necessarily final. Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."

— Herman Cain

""

"If you equate happiness with success, you will never achieve the amount of success necessary to make you happy."

— Dennis Prager

"Success does not lead to happiness; instead, happiness leads to success."

— Chade-Meng Tan

Success and Happiness as By-products

In the intricate dance between happiness and success, it's often observed that each can be a by-product of the other. This interconnected relationship suggests that pursuing one can inadvertently lead to the attainment of the other, challenging the notion of prioritizing either in isolation. The following quotes illuminate this dynamic interplay, offering insights into how achieving success can lead to happiness and vice versa.

Success, like happiness, is a by-product, not a goal. - Roy  Bennett

"Success, like happiness, is a by-product, not a goal."

— Roy Bennett

""

— Viktor E. Frankl

""

— jeetain_singh

""

— jeetain_singh

For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. - Viktor E. Frankl

"For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself."

— Viktor E. Frankl

"Success, like happiness, is the unexpected side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself."

— Viktor E. Frankl

"Success in life depends upon happiness, and happiness is found in no other way than through SERVICE that is rendered in a spirit of love."

— Napoleon Hill

"Judge your success by the degree that you're enjoying peace, health, and love."

— H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

"Happy, vibrant, successful people think and behave in certain ways. So do miserable and unfulfilled people. In other words, there are patterns of success and patterns of failure. The good news is, success leaves clues."

— Tony Robbins

Your success and happiness start with you. - Zig Ziglar

"Your success and happiness start with you."

— Zig Ziglar

Balance and Contentment

Finding a harmonious equilibrium between pursuing success and maintaining happiness is crucial for leading a fulfilling life. This section explores how achieving contentment requires not just success, but also recognizing and appreciating the balance in life's diverse aspects. The following quotes highlight various perspectives on attaining this delicate balance.

Satisfaction is not the achievement of what we want, but the awareness of what we have. - Abhishek Shukla

"Satisfaction is not the achievement of what we want, but the awareness of what we have."

— Abhishek Shukla

"Success in life is useless is you don't have a balance of happiness, peace, hope, and optimism."

— Germany Kent

"Success is not the ultimate satisfaction in life, being happy and contented with what you have is important."

— Amit Abraham

"Life is for happiness not for success."

— Debasish Mridha

The best success is defined by happiness not by achievement. - Debasish Mridha

"The best success is defined by happiness not by achievement."

— Debasish Mridha

"Life is not about success; life is about a journey toward happiness."

— Debasish Mridha

"Life is about happiness—not about success."

— Debasish Mridha

"Life isn't about achieving successBut about creating joy and happiness."

— Debasish Mridha

"Measure your success with your happiness, not with other's opinions."

— Giridhar Alwar

There's no point in being an unhappy success, and there's not much sense in being a happy failure either. - Innocent Mwatsikesimbe

"There's no point in being an unhappy success, and there's not much sense in being a happy failure either."

— Innocent Mwatsikesimbe

"Success is not an end in itself. It should be a means to an end - happiness. If success does not lead to happiness, it is called "failure"."

— Murad S. Shah

"Consider whether fulfillment of the goal you have chosen will constitute success. What is success? If you possess health and wealth, but have trouble with everybody (including yourself), yours is not a successful life. Existence becomes futile if you cannot find happiness. When wealth is lost, you have lost a little; when health is lost, you have lost something of more consequence; but when peace of mind is lost, you have lost the highest treasure."

— Paramahansa Yogananda

Personal Fulfillment and Joy

In the intricate balance between happiness and success, personal fulfillment and joy stand as cornerstones of a meaningful life. This section delves into how true satisfaction often stems from within, offering insights that go beyond mere external achievements to highlight the profound connection between inner contentment and overall well-being. The following quotes illuminate this path towards a more joyful and fulfilling existence.

Your success and happiness lie in you. - Helen Keller

"Your success and happiness lie in you."

— Helen Keller

"REAL success, satisfaction and joy has nothing to do with owning STUFF!"

— Tony Dovale

"... success or failure, the truth of a life really has little to do with its quality. The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight. The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention."

— Julia Cameron

"Success is only measured in terms of JOY"

— Esther Hicks

The standard of success in life isn't the things. It isn't the money or the stuff. It is absolutely the amount of joy that you feel. - Esther Hicks

"The standard of success in life isn't the things. It isn't the money or the stuff. It is absolutely the amount of joy that you feel."

— Esther Hicks

"Success is to be Happy in Life."

— Heidi Klum

"Success is getting and achieving what you want. Happiness is wanting and being content with what you get."

— Bernard Meltzer

"Instead of looking for the success in your life, look for the thing that is going to bring you the greatest joy."

— Oprah Winfrey

"It’s the building of things that makes you happy. You have to enjoy the process whether you succeed or fail."

— Caterina Fake

Success as an Inner Quality

Success is often misconstrued as external achievements, but it fundamentally lies within one's character and mindset. This perspective shifts the conversation from material accomplishments to personal growth and fulfillment, which are intrinsically linked with happiness. Dive into these quotes that illuminate how cultivating inner qualities can lead to a more meaningful sense of success.

The formula of happiness and success is just, being actually yourself, in the most vivid possible way you can. - meryl streep

"The formula of happiness and success is just, being actually yourself, in the most vivid possible way you can."

— meryl streep

"Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get."

— Ingrid Bergman

"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.[Eddie Scissons]"

— W.P. Kinsella

"Success depends on your attitude; happiness depends on your gratitude."

— Debasish Mridha

The secret of a successful life isn't the success but happiness. - Debasish Mridha

"The secret of a successful life isn't the success but happiness."

— Debasish Mridha

"Success in life is useless if you don't have a balance of happiness, peace, hope, and optimism."

— Germany Kent

"Your stance vis-à-vis life determines how successful or how happy you will be in life!"

— Mehmet Murat ildan

"Sometimes it is wonderful to be unsuccessful because through our failure, we enable people to try new paths! And thus, even in failure you may found happiness, because helping others is an important source of happiness!"

— Mehmet Murat ildan

"Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success."

— Herman Cain

Success is measured by personal happiness. - Usher

"Success is measured by personal happiness."

— Usher

"Success is not rightly measured by the worldly standards of wealth, prestige and power. None of these bestow happiness unless they are rightly used. To use them rightly one must possess wisdom and love for God and man."

— Paramahansa Yogananda

Success Defined by Others

In the pursuit of happiness, how we define success often reflects societal norms and external expectations rather than personal fulfillment. This external definition of success can lead to a disconnect between what society deems successful and individual feelings of happiness and satisfaction. The following quotes explore how others' perceptions shape our understanding of success and its impact on our happiness.

For a sane person to sincerely be happy that someone has succeeded, they have to either be profiting or likely to profit from that person’s success, or be that person. - Mokokoma Mokhonoana

"For a sane person to sincerely be happy that someone has succeeded, they have to either be profiting or likely to profit from that person’s success, or be that person."

— Mokokoma Mokhonoana

"Satisfaction is an excuse that arises out of comparison with success! Infact, it is the stepping stone of retirement."

— Vishwanath S J

"Success in life depends upon happiness, and happiness is found in no other way than through SERVICE that is rendered in a spirit of love." Napoleon Hill"

— Napoleon Hill

"Success is relative, but happiness is absolute."

— Eraldo Banovac

Success does not mean happiness. Check out any celebrity magazine to look for examples to disabuse you of thinking that being beautiful, successful or rich will make you happy. - Shawn Achor

"Success does not mean happiness. Check out any celebrity magazine to look for examples to disabuse you of thinking that being beautiful, successful or rich will make you happy."

— Shawn Achor

"...no formula for success [exists] except, perhaps, an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings." "I accept life unconditionally. Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be felt if you don't set any condition."

— Arthur Rubinstein

"Your success, your life, your happiness. Don't let mean people bring that down."

— Taylor Swift

"For true happiness, it is not enough to be successful oneself . . . one's friends must fail."

— Gore Vidal

""

— Bill Walton

Success and Happiness through Service

Serving others can be a powerful conduit for both personal success and happiness, bridging the gap between what we achieve and how fulfilled we feel. This section explores how dedicating ourselves to service not only enriches our own lives but also contributes significantly to societal well-being, offering insights from various perspectives.

We often think that only money, power and comfort give us gratification. But this is partial truth. We also feel happy when we play, work out, solve a complex problem or make a child smile by our love and affection. We enjoy success and hate failure, but there is hardly any success that is not preceded by failure. It is our failures that make our successes sweeter. - Awdhesh Singh

"We often think that only money, power and comfort give us gratification. But this is partial truth. We also feel happy when we play, work out, solve a complex problem or make a child smile by our love and affection. We enjoy success and hate failure, but there is hardly any success that is not preceded by failure. It is our failures that make our successes sweeter."

— Awdhesh Singh

"Most people chase success at work, thinking that will make them happy. The truth is that happiness at work will make you successful."

— Alexander Kjerulf

"Success in life depends upon happiness, and happiness is found in no other way than through SERVICE that is rendered in a spirit of love." Napoleon Hill"

— Napoleon Hill

""

— jeetain_singh

Success in life depends upon happiness, and happiness is found in no other way than through SERVICE that is rendered in a spirit of love. - Napoleon Hill

"Success in life depends upon happiness, and happiness is found in no other way than through SERVICE that is rendered in a spirit of love."

— Napoleon Hill

""

— Bill Walton

"Consider whether fulfillment of the goal you have chosen will constitute success. What is success? If you possess health and wealth, but have trouble with everybody (including yourself), yours is not a successful life. Existence becomes futile if you cannot find happiness. When wealth is lost, you have lost a little; when health is lost, you have lost something of more consequence; but when peace of mind is lost, you have lost the highest treasure."

— Paramahansa Yogananda

The Journey and Process

Understanding the nuances of happiness versus success often hinges on recognizing the value of the journey itself, not just the destination. This section delves into how the process, with its challenges and growth opportunities, is integral to both personal fulfillment and professional achievement, offering insights through a series of thought-provoking quotes.

As material items can still leave us feeling unfulfilled, perhaps a better gauge of success is simply happiness, finding enjoyment in what we do. - Kristi Bowman

"As material items can still leave us feeling unfulfilled, perhaps a better gauge of success is simply happiness, finding enjoyment in what we do."

— Kristi Bowman

"Success, even happiness, is not about doing what is easy, it is about doing what is right… especially when it is not easy."

— Richelle E. Goodrich

"Success isn't what makes you happy. It really isn't. Success is doing what makes you happy and doing good work and hopefully having a fruitful life. If I've felt like I've done good work, that makes me happy."

— Philip Seymour Hoffman

"It's the building of things that makes you happy. You have to enjoy the process whether you succeed or fail."

— Caterina Fake

Success isn't what makes you happy. It really isn't. Success is doing what makes you happy and doing good work and hopefully having a fruitful life. If I've felt like I've done good work, that makes me happy. The success part of it is all gravy. - Philip Seymour Hoffman

"Success isn't what makes you happy. It really isn't. Success is doing what makes you happy and doing good work and hopefully having a fruitful life. If I've felt like I've done good work, that makes me happy. The success part of it is all gravy."

— Philip Seymour Hoffman

"When a small child... I thought that success spelled happiness. I was wrong."

— Anna Pavlova

"I have seen business moguls achieve their ultimate goals but still live in frustration, worry, and fear. What's preventing these successful people for being happy? The answer is they have focused only on achievement and not fulfillment. Extraordinary accomplishment does not guarantee extraordinary joy, happiness, love, and a sense of meaning. These two skill sets feed off each other, and make me believe that success without fulfillment is failure."

— Tony Robbins

"It’s the building of things that makes you happy. You have to enjoy the process whether you succeed or fail."

— Caterina Fake

Other

Additional quotes that offer unique perspectives on this topic.

Success is getting what you want..Happiness is wanting what you get. - Dale Carnegie

"Success is getting what you want..Happiness is wanting what you get."

— Dale Carnegie

"Success is realising the true joy and wonder of life can only be yours if you follow your own intuition, aiming to achieve your bliss."

— Steven Redhead

"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get."

— Dale Carnegie

"The key ingredient to any kind of happiness or success is to never give less than your best"

— Russell Simmons

Success equals achievement and achievements equal to happiness. That's the universal truth. - Mwanandeke Kindembo

"Success equals achievement and achievements equal to happiness. That's the universal truth."

— Mwanandeke Kindembo

"When success is your only option, positivity has to be your only choice."

— Germany Kent

"Success is the moon and happiness is moonlight."

— Debasish Mridha

"The greatest happiness of life was to stand at the difficult border between success and failure."

— Eiji Yoshikawa

"Success is the relentless pursuit of joy."

— Amy Leigh Mercree

Success is the best feeling in the worldThe world is full of successes Successes repeat for those who succeedSucceed and you will never regretRegret is replaced with deedsDeeds are not equal but greater than SuccessSuccess Exist - Isaac Nash

"Success is the best feeling in the worldThe world is full of successes Successes repeat for those who succeedSucceed and you will never regretRegret is replaced with deedsDeeds are not equal but greater than SuccessSuccess Exist"

— Isaac Nash

"The definition of success is wrong in many ways and this is the main reason why people are depressed and worried” - Anuj Jasani"

— Anuj Jasani

"A life with simplicity and joy is the best statement of success."

— Debasish Mridha

"Success without happiness is a mirage of life."

— Debasish Mridha

"You want to BE happy and HAVE success? Join those words, BE+HAVE… To experience success in your life requires that you decide what you want and BEHAVE accordingly."

— Steve Maraboli

All that matters in life is that you are happy with where you are, what you are, and with whom you are. Everything around you will be happy and smile with you. If that isn’t success, then what is? - Debasish Mridha

"All that matters in life is that you are happy with where you are, what you are, and with whom you are. Everything around you will be happy and smile with you. If that isn’t success, then what is?"

— Debasish Mridha

"Some would say—don’t strive for what cannot be achieved. But how do you know what can be achieved without trying?Nor is it correct to say—Be happy with what you’ve got.But should happiness depend on inferiority?No, to my way of thinking expectations should align with ability. Therefore if one increases the ability to achieve higher goals by determination and perseverance, higher achievements will be the norm. © 2020, Daniel Kemp All rights reserved."

— Daniel Kemp

"When you're looking for successNever forget to live in happiness."

— Debasish Mridha

"If you try to find success in fame or in things, you will fail. If you find happiness is the process you will be a success."

— Debasish Mridha

"The measure of success is not by opulence but by happiness"

— Debasish Mridha

Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get. - H. Jackson Brown

"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get."

— H. Jackson Brown

"Attainment of success is in the pursue of happiness."

— Ndiritu Wahome

"Success is no guarantee of happiness. The only guarantee of happiness is happiness."

— Marty Rubin

"We are living in a competitive world and have to perform better than others to achieve success. We also believe that it is success that brings happiness. We assume that if we can take care of success then success, itself, will take care of happiness. Therefore, people keep chasing success all through their lives as they consider happiness to be its by-product."

— Awdhesh Singh

"The thing is, when I had my first success it did coincide with the end of my first marriage, and because I went on to have a very, very unhappy two years, I don't think I equate career success with personal happiness."

— Rob Brydon

As Sir Henry Newbolt sums it up: "The real test of success is whether a life has been a happy one and a happy giving one." - Robert Baden-Powell

""

— Robert Baden-Powell

"It's not what is available or unavailable that determines your level of success and happiness; it's what you convince yourself is true."

— Wayne Dyer

"Success is.... happiness. Is that too Deepak Chopra?"

— Jimmy Fallon

"Your success & happiness lies in you."

— Helen Keller

"If you can measure success in this business based on happiness alone I feel like I've hit the lottery."

— Justin Long

One who has drunk at the fountain of spiritual happiness says good-by of his own accord to the satisfactions that come from a higher professional status ... What is the greatest sign of success for a teacher thus transformed? It is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist. - Maria Montessori

"One who has drunk at the fountain of spiritual happiness says good-by of his own accord to the satisfactions that come from a higher professional status ... What is the greatest sign of success for a teacher thus transformed? It is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."

— Maria Montessori

"Your best success comes after your greatest disapponitment"

— A. R. Rahman

"Success doesn't necessarily mean happiness."

— Ben Stiller

"Perhaps the most important word in success and happiness is the word,"ask.""

— Brian Tracy

"Your determination to become a more optimistic person in every part of your life will do more to ensure your success and happiness than any other single quality you can develop."

— Brian Tracy

Success in anything is through happiness. - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

"Success in anything is through happiness."

— Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

"Any time I see someone succeed I am happy, for it affirms my belief that I live in a world where success is possible."

— Bonnie Gillespie

Conclusion

The exploration of "Happiness Vs Success" quotes offers profound wisdom from thinkers who have grappled with the complex interplay between these two critical aspects of life. Through themes such as Success Without Happiness, we've seen that external achievements can fall short when not aligned with inner contentment. On the flip side, insights like Happiness Leads to Success highlight how a positive mindset and joy can propel us towards our goals more effectively than relentless pursuit alone.

Moreover, understanding that Success and Happiness are often by-products of living authentically and maintaining Balance and Contentment brings a new perspective to what it means to lead a fulfilling life. Themes such as Personal Fulfillment and Joy underscore the importance of inner satisfaction over societal benchmarks, while recognizing Success as an Inner Quality reminds us that genuine success is not just about material gains but also personal growth and self-actualization.

As we continue to navigate through Success Defined by Others versus our own internal compasses, and explore how Success and Happiness can be cultivated through Service to others, it becomes clear that the journey itself is a treasure. Encouraged by these insights, take action today: reflect on your definitions of success and happiness, embrace service, and cherish the process. Let these "happiness-vs-success" quotes not only inspire but also guide you toward a life rich in both fulfillment and joy.

In closing, remember that every step forward is an opportunity to cultivate inner peace and genuine success. The journey towards finding harmony between happiness and success is uniquely yours, filled with endless possibilities for growth and discovery.

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