“The happiness of life, on the contrary, is made up of minute fractions-the little, soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of playful raillery, and the countless other infinitesimals of pleasurable thought and genial feeling.”
Explore More About Samuel Taylor Coleridge
If you’re interested in learning more about Samuel Taylor Coleridge and their impact on history, here are some recommended resources:
- Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Coleridge: Early Visions, 1772-1804
- The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: A Critical Biography (Wiley Blackwell Critical Biographies)
- Coleridge’s Poetry and Prose: Authoritative Texts, Criticism (Norton Critical Editions)
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Norton Library, N696)
- Coleridge
- The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition): Poetry, Plays, Literary Essays, Lectures, Autobiography & Letters
- Biographia Literaria: The Collected Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Biographical Sketches of my Literary Life & Opinions
- English Romantic Poetry: An Anthology (Dover Thrift Editions)
- The Complete Works Of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: The Friend, With The Author’s Last Corrections And An Appendix, And With A Synoptical Table Of The Contents Of The Work, By H.n. Coleridge
- The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Poetry, Plays, Literary Essays, Lectures, Autobiography and Letters (Classic Illustrated Edition): Rime to Lectures
- The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Poetry, Plays, Literary Essays, Lectures, Autobiography and Letters (Classic Illustrated Edition): Enriched edition.
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This profound observation comes from the mind of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a key figure in the English Romantic Movement. His words challenge the grand pursuit of happiness. Many people chase big achievements for fulfillment. However, Coleridge suggests a different path. He argues that true, lasting happiness is not found in monumental events. Instead, it blossoms from the small, everyday moments we often overlook. This idea was revolutionary for its time and remains incredibly relevant today.
Let’s explore the origins of this quote. We will also unpack its timeless wisdom. You can learn how to apply this perspective to your own life for greater contentment.
The Source and the Poet
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a poet, philosopher, and literary critic. Source) He co-founded the Romantic Movement in England with his friend William Wordsworth. Coleridge penned this specific thought in his collection of essays, ‘The Friend’. This work explored subjects ranging from morality and politics to philosophy and religion. The quote itself reflects the core tenets of Romanticism. This movement emphasized emotion, individualism, and the beauty of the ordinary.
In Coleridge’s time, society often valued grand gestures and societal status. His focus on