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To: Victoria Delsoul
We work so hard to find happiness. But more and more I think of what a friend told me on the phone 10 years ago after I had written an essay on the subject. He called and said: "This is a famous quote from someone, I forget who, and this is what you mean. 'Happiness is a cat. Chase it and it will elude you, it will hide. But sit and peacefully do your work, live your life and show your love and it will silently come to you and curl itself upon your feet.' "
The general consensus, from a Google search for "happiness is" cat chase elude, is a SIMILAR quote from William Bennett (posted on the Internet 60+ times!), and is documented authoritatively in a link from the footnote that follows THIS version:
William Bennet writes:
"Happiness is like a cat.
If you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you, it will never come.
But if you pay no attention to it and go about your business,
you'll find it rubbing against your legs and jumping into your lap."4
This appears to be a variation on an EARLIER quotation by Nathaniel Hawthorne, which has been posted on the Internet 250+ times:
"Happiness is a butterfly,
which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp,
but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
I am still searching for the version that says, "Happiness is a DOG..."
106 posted on 12/14/2001 7:56:38 PM PST by RonDog
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To: RonDog
Wow! Excellent research, Ron. Thanks so much!

I am still searching for the version that says, "Happiness is a DOG..."

LOL, that's funny. How about happiness is a dog, chase it and it will growl and bite you. Relax, take your time, show your love and it will come to you and sit by your side and always follow you wherever you go.

Nah, lol!

107 posted on 12/14/2001 8:33:18 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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