The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
Ralph Waldo Emerson 
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Comments 3
Happiness can only come with the practice of virtues – some of which you refer –
Pedro Mendezona
Gads, I thought I’d get Michael’s daily message, not a bunch of mostly-unmemorable quotes (good sentiments but really ….).
MK
I find it interesting that most who read the quote missing the word “not”. Emerson stated that the purpose of life was “not” to be happy.
Perhaps his living off the grid & in the woods removed all the distractions and it was then he gained clarity on how to help his fellow man.
Just thinking out loud.