Cheerfulness (n.) in its uniquely German form, as in Luther, Beethoven and Wagner, is a fermented mixture of simplicity, love's penetrating glance, reflective mind and roguishness — the smile of convalescents returning to life after suffering it profoundly.
Cheerfulness (n.) exists at bottom only where there is a victory: the true thinker cheers like a god seen with the monsters he has fought, while the cheerful mediocrity depresses because he never saw the monsters he claims to have beaten.
Cheerfulness (n.) is the very flower of health.
Cheerfulness (n.) is health; the opposite, melancholy, is disease.
Contentment (n.) goes only with modest virtue — the small grow smaller because of their teaching on happiness and virtue.
Contentment (n.) is the mother of courage and the grandmother of freethinking — so states keep teachers moderately discontented.
Contentment (n.) is wise — A contented ass enjoys a long life.
Contentment (n.) is rare — No one is perfectly satisfied with what fortune allots him.
Domestic happiness (n.) survives boredom better than applause.
Domestic happiness (n.) is a sitcom with the laugh track removed.
Domestic happiness (n.) is peace that depends on who did the dishes.
Domestic happiness (n.) is like a pilot light: small, unimpressive, and the whole house runs off it.