We all look for happiness, but without knowing where to find it: like drunkards who look for their house, knowing dimly that they have one.

[Nous cherchons tous le bonheur, mais sans savoir où, comme les ivrognes qui cherchent leur maison, sachant confusément qu’ils en ont une.]

Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Notebooks, “Leningrad Notebook” (c.1735-c.1750)

The same notebook has a variation on this: Les hommes qui cherchent le bonheur sont comme des ivrognes qui ne peuvent trouver leur maison, mais qui savent qu'ils en ont une. [Men who look for happiness are like drunkards who cannot find their house but know that they have one.]

 
Added on 21-May-08 | Last updated 15-Apr-09
Link to this post | No comments
More quotes by Voltaire

Thoughts? Comments? Corrections? Feedback?