Neal A. Maxwell Quotes

Happiness in the ordinary sense is not what one needs in life, though one is right to aim at it. The true satisfaction is to come through, and see those whom one lives come through.

To become successful, first learn how to be happy. Too many think that the route to happiness is to get successful

To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given a chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy.

We all want to be happy. We need to expand the notion of what that means, to make it bigger and wiser.

There is more to life than show business.

I am happy with the roles I play.

You need to be able to find joy in something that requires so much of yourself. I have to have that deeper meaning in my work and in my everyday life.

I wanted to do something that gave my life meaning and purpose.

I've created the life I wanted.

I like my life. I like competing, but it's not just because of the money.

I had fame and wealth and things that are supposed to make you happy, but I wasn't happy, because there's no importance on having a fulfilling life. So in my mid-40s, that was my pursuit - making films that interested me, films that I would like to go see.

I already have success. I had it a long time ago. It's nothing to do with my music. Music is secondary, at this point. The good stuff is really good, but I have success because I'm at peace and I'm a good person in my everyday life and that's important.

In activity we must find our joy as well as glory; and labor, like everything else that is good, is its own reward.

Nobody knows what you want except you. And nobody will be as sorry as you if you don't get it. Wanting some other way to live is proof enough of deserving it. Having it is hard work, but not having it is sheer hell.

Success has nothing to do with happiness.

There is no state of satisfaction, because to himself no man is a success.

We’re on this planet for too short a time. And at the end of the day, what’s more important? Knowing that a few meaningless figures balanced—or knowing that you were the person you wanted to be?

How does one craft happiness out of something as important, as complicated, as unrepeatable and as easily damaged as life?

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.

You may have success in life, but then just think of it - what kind of life was it? What good was it - you've never done the thing you wanted to do in all your life. I always tell my students, go where your body and soul want to go. When you have the feeling, then stay with it, and don't let anyone throw you off.

Politics, poverty, riches, etc - these are but backdrops for the grand cinema, the opera: the glory of your life. Sure, change the backdrops, make them better, but it is this inside-ness that matters most. Nothing else, at the last breath, matters, but your very own poetry. The glory of living.

I certainly won't have an empty life!

The clue to happiness is being interested in life. People's happiness is as great as they can create it.

I do not like the idea of happiness - it is too momentary - I would say that I was always busy and interested in something - interest has more meaning to me than the idea of happiness.

It's more important to be happy than well-dressed.