"“There is only one inborn error, and that is the notion that we exist in order to be happy….So long as we persist in this inborn error, and indeed even become confirmed in it through optimistic dogmas, the world seems to us full of contradictions.”"

"“…what the behavior of men themselves reveals as the purpose and object of their lives, what they demand of life and wish to attain in it. The answer to this can hardly be in doubt: they seek happiness, they want to become happy and remain so.”"

"Happiness has not always been considered a target worth striving for. The root of the word happiness, in most Indo-European languages, is luck or fate, implying that happiness was originally viewed as something to be given and taken away by the gods, or by chance."

"“Happiness then is in its full extent the utmost Pleasure we are capable of, and Misery the utmost pain.”"

"“…[striving for happiness] is like an unquenchable thirst: we may attain some brief satisfactions, some momentary release, but in the nature of things these can never be more than temporary, and then we are on the rack once more. So unhappiness, or at least dissatisfaction, is our normal state of affairs.”"

"“…the lack of meaning in life is a soul-sickness whose full extent and import our age has not yet begun to comprehend.”"

"Many people develop a successful career, raise a family, amass wealth and social status, only to discover, often around mid-life, that despite their outward success their inward existence remains desolate and devoid of meaning."

"“A career, producing of children, are all maya [illusion] compared to that one thing, that your life is meaningful.”"

"A far more practical approach to the pursuit of meaning is to focus on the cultivation of our character."

"If we focus on becoming a more integrated and complete individual we greatly increase our chance of finding meaning for two main reasons. Firstly, this approach is an antidote to the stagnation and passivity which guarantees a meaningless existence. And secondly, by striving to cultivate our strengths we will likely discover the ‘why’ or purpose to our existence which is key to a subjectively meaningful life. To assist on this path we need to discuss the role that goals play in this process."

"“Foolish are those who…have no aim to which they can direct every impulse and, indeed, every thought.”"

"While most are aware of the importance of goal-setting, many make the mistake of sacrificing themselves for their goals. They believe it is the attainment of goals which builds character and cultivates meaning, when in fact it is the continual struggle towards them which matters most."

"“Who ever exerts himself in constant striving, Him we can redeem.”"

"In continuously striving for goals it is crucial to keep in mind that our goals are only of value if they contribute to the growth of our character."

"We strive to be ourselves…The goal is absolutely secondary: it is the functioning toward the goal which is important.”"

"In following this advice – in relentlessly striving towards goals while continually modifying them to facilitate the continued development of our character – we will place ourselves on a potentially meaningful life path."

"Choosing this path requires that we abandon our obsession with happiness and pleasure, but ironically in stepping off of the hedonic treadmill and exposing ourselves to the struggles and strife required to cultivate character, we will likely attain the transient state of happiness far more frequently than those who aim squarely for it."

"“…who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on the shore and merely existed?”"