...it's a mistake to think that happiness is the goal. I'm not sure if I understand." "I was referring to the goals which you in your civilization are so good at setting yourselves, and which incidentally allow you to achieve many interesting things. But happiness is a different thing altogether. If you try to achieve it, you have every chance of failing. And besides, how would you ever know that you achieved it? Of course one can't blame people, especially unhappy people, for wanting to be happier and setting themselves goals in order to try to escape from their unhappiness.

— François Lelord

It's one thing thinking something and another thing knowing it.

— François Lelord

Knowing and feeling are two different things, and feeling is what counts.

— François Lelord

Many people see happiness only in their future.

— François Lelord

Many people think that happiness comes from having more power or more money.

— François Lelord

Or rather, he was sad because that morning he'd understood that he'd understood nothing, because while he still understood nothing he wasn't sad at all, but now that he'd understood that he'd understood nothing he felt sad, if you follow.

— François Lelord

People who are afraid of death are afraid of if

— François Lelord

[P]perhaps this was how you knew a good deed was perfect: you didn't necessarily feel better afterward.

— François Lelord

Some people, very many actually, both men and women, complained of having enjoyed a very loving relationship with someone, but of no longer feeling the same way despite still being very fond of that person, with whom they generally lived.

— François Lelord

Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story.

— François Lelord