Unknown Quotes
Shmoop will make you a better lover...of quotes
ALL QUOTES POPULAR BROWSE BY AUTHOR BROWSE BY SOURCE BROWSE BY TOPIC BROWSE BY SUBJECT
Source: Unknown
Speaker: Dalai Lama
Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.
Context
This line was spoken by the spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama doesn't provide wool to be woven into hats and carpets—that would be the Dalai Llama. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet.
According to his website (Dalai Lamas have to be modern these days), they are believed to be "enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity." One way he serves humanity is through inspirational quotes, of which there are many.
According to this one, whether it's achieving Nirvana yourself or earning the money to download a Nirvana album, happiness is something you have to work toward.
Where you've heard it
You've heard this from leaders who are inspirational, but not inspirational enough to come up with their own quotes.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
It's hard to find anything said by the Dalai Lama pretentious. A U2 song inspired by the Dalai Lama's teachings, however, is on the opposite end of the spectrum.