To fill the hour: that is happiness.

What it means

Happiness is not a far-off reward but a present hour fully lived. Emerson means leaving no gap for regret or self-congratulation. Give the hour in front of you your full attention.

The source

"To fill the hour: that is happiness." Ralph Waldo Emerson said it in Experience (Essays: Second Series, 1844). Written in English: Essays: Second Series, 1844.

"To fill the hour,--that is happiness"

Original English (Essays: Second Series, 1844), Experience (Essays: Second Series, 1844). Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882). American essayist and lecturer who led the Transcendentalists. His lines here come from Nature, Self-Reliance and his Essays.

Questions

What does "To fill the hour: that is happiness." mean?

Happiness is not a far-off reward but a present hour fully lived. Emerson means leaving no gap for regret or self-congratulation. Give the hour in front of you your full attention.

Who said "To fill the hour: that is happiness."?

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882). Source: Experience (Essays: Second Series, 1844).

What is the original wording?

To fill the hour,--that is happiness (Original English (Essays: Second Series, 1844)). Written in English: Essays: Second Series, 1844.

Is "To fill the hour: that is happiness." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"To fill the hour: that is happiness." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Experience (Essays: Second Series, 1844), trans. Original English (Essays: Second Series, 1844)). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/to-fill-the-hour-that-is-happiness