“The happiness of men consists in not having time to think about their misery.”Jean de La Bruyère · Caracterele · 1688 · Des la Cour, 11
Happiness is achieved through busyness, which prevents the mind from focusing on suffering.
La Bruyère observes that the human mind, left idle, tends to brood over problems. Activities and distractions protect us from painful introspection. A person who works hard or engages in hobbies no longer has the mental energy to focus on unhappiness. For example, a parent busy with children forgets their own worries.
Why it matters In the age of anxiety, this idea suggests that active engagement in life can be an effective antidote to negative thoughts.