My Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life

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August 28, 2011
18 Comment

“But There Is No Happiness Without Action.”

Disraeli

“Action may not always be happiness…but there is no happiness without action.”
– Benjamin Disraeli, in Lothair

Like many sweeping generalizations, this statement is thought-provoking to consider, whether or not it’s absolutely true. What do you think?

* I love reading other people’s personal commandments, resolutions, and the like, so I really enjoyed reading these 39 Secrets of Adulthood.

* Want a copy of my Resolutions Chart, for inspiration? Email me at gretchenrubin1@gretchenrubin.com. Just write “chart” in the subject line.

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  • Gerryo56

    Lots of truth to that!  It’s hard to be UNhappy when you’re actively doing something, isn’t it?  Some days I have to force myself to go to the gym , or take the dog for a walk, but once I’m actually doing either of those, I enjoy it.  There are plenty of mundane tasks that don’t really make you happy to do, but getting them done is sure satisfying.  Doing the dishes can be a real chore (I’m working on turning it into a meditation – ha!), but looking at the dishrack full of clean pots, plates, cutlery etc definitely makes me smile. 

    Action may not make you happy, but it sure can distract you from your unhappiness.  You could say that action starts you towards the happiness end of the continuum.  Does that make any sense?! 

    • http://www.happinessbeacon.com/ Gec

      :) Doing the dishes is good meditation, I sometimes miss it (since I got the dishwasher).

      Your comment reminds me of a scene in the Kung Fu series, David Carradine at one point says “Is it not nice to sweep? To keep things clean?”

      The purposeful action of cleaning is grounding, it brings order to the mind.

  • http://www.timelessinformation.com Armen Shirvanian

    There sure isn’t happiness without action.  I’m writing a comment here but there was probably 5 other people wanting to post a comment who didn’t act on it and now regret it a little.  You gotta push forward.

    Any days I don’t bring the action are my terrible days, and the other ones are great days.  It is pretty simple.  We get out of life what we put into it.

  • http://www.happinessbeacon.com/ Gec

    Benjamin Disraeli was definitely on to something.

    The action he means, in my view, is the purposeful action. When a man acts on purpose, the action brings happiness. The purpose grounds us, the purpose brings change, it brings progress.

    Action without purpose does not bring happiness. It brings stagnation.

    To answer your question, it is absolutely true.

  • Julie Parmenter

    A friend once told me: “Knowledge is power, and action conquers fear.”  And it’s true!

  • http://twitter.com/ampetersen Anne Marie Petersen

    It’s been a while since I posted as I’ve been “busy” since graduating grad school and trying to get involved in other projects.

    This quote resonates with me deeply as part of my internal tugging is that I believe no good can come from doing nothing, so one ought to do something. Action, to me, is more than getting out of bed in the morning. It’s a start.

    Action, to me, is more than donating $1.00 to whatever the grocery store or the pet store asks you to…

    It’s getting involved,  in the trenches of someone’s emotional, physical, situational, or financial pain and doing what you can to help. After all, is it not true that all we want for others is for them to be happy? Then, therefore, what we can do to help them feel joy should also result in our own? 

    • http://nomorefrump.blogspot.com Anne Marie Petersen

      By the way, you can read more about my mission on my blog… 

  • http://www.online-business-virtual-assistant.com/ Virtual Business Assistant

     I always feel that an Ideal mind is devil’s work shop. So keep your mind occupied in any thing and get out of your worries…

  • Jax

    I agree; I find that the busier I am, the happier I am. I know the importance of having time to oneself, time to think – but sometimes when I’ve too much time to think I drive myself into a downward spiral. Also, when I’m busy I seem to get so much more of value done. Everything slots itself neatly in around the edges, if that makes sense.

  • http://www.mineralifeonline.com Neil Butterfield

    I too find washing dishes to be very therapeutic. It is a great way to reflect on the day and identify areas where I could have improved in my business. 

  • Peninith1

    Well . . . as long as action is not just a flurry of activity and wheel spinning. Mindful housework . . . steps toward something I’m making . . . work for others, yep. Running around being busy as an escape, not so much. Contemplation also has its pleasures– but of course only when it is done mindfully (actively!) and not when it is fretful rumination.

  • Rebecca

    I think I’d have to agree with that. There is happiness in doing, and in recollecting things done, but I don’t see how there can be happiness in inaction. (Even if that action is to sit zazen or something like that.)

    I had a Happiness Project moment the other day — I wanted to send a thank-you to someone, and opened up a Facebook message. Then I remembered a) that I had impulse purchased some cute note cards recently and b) how rare it is to get a piece of meaningful physical mail these days. I wrote them a card instead of an e-message and felt happy about it all morning.

  • Sue

    Yes!  it is true!!  No action means being a lounge lizard watching day time TV (yuck!!), growing fat and ill (yes, I have done it!).  Achieving things you want – whatever they may be – means taking action and the feeling is just great!

  • Jpinsler53

    I never really gave this a LOT of thought, but it really makes sense.
    I am going to write this down and hang it above my bed so I see it before I fall asleep and when I wake up.

  • uydguy

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  • Gill M

    I 100% totally agree.   There is NEVER going to be happiness without action. Happiness is an emotion and emotions stem from actions.  The actions can be from themselves, or other people.  If someone says to you “hey, you’re looking good” that is an action….. which in turn produces happiness (a reaction) from whom the statement is aimed at.   Flattery gets you everywhere…… because it is an action.   However, I feel I must highlight that I also agree with the first part of the statement…. “Action may not always be happiness”…. this is also true.  Say for example you are on a diet and you choose to snack…..eveb binge?  This is also an action but its not likely to make you happy.  Therefore, “action may not always be happiness”.

  • MsJoanie

    The Disraeli quote is SO apropos today, as I’m surrounded by moving boxes and chaos.  I would give almost anything to have this move magically over with, but alas, “there is no happiness without action.”

  • http://tangerinedrawings.com/ Frances

    “Action is character!” Now who said that?

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