Happiness is a by-product. You cannot pursue it by itself.

“Happiness is a by-product. You cannot pursue it by itself.” — Thus spoke Sam Levenson, the humorist and philosopher of everyday life, whose wit often concealed a profound understanding of the human condition. Beneath this simple observation lies a truth that has echoed through the ages: that happiness is not a destination to which one travels, but the fragrance left upon the path of meaningful living. It is not a prize to be hunted, but a companion that walks quietly beside those who forget to seek it and instead give themselves to love, labor, and purpose.

In his words, Levenson reminds us that happiness eludes the grasp of those who chase it directly. The one who cries, “I must be happy!” finds only emptiness, for happiness, like a shadow, follows only when one walks toward the light of something greater than oneself. The origin of this wisdom lies in the timeless pattern of human striving: we search endlessly for joy — in possessions, approval, and success — only to find it slipping through our fingers. Yet when we turn our attention outward, when we serve, create, and give, happiness blooms naturally as the quiet consequence of a life well lived.

The ancients understood this mystery. Aristotle spoke of eudaimonia — not pleasure, but the flourishing of the soul through virtuous action. He taught that happiness arises from fulfilling one’s purpose, not indulging one’s desires. Similarly, Levenson, though writing in a modern world of noise and distraction, echoed the same truth: that the path to joy is found not in pursuit, but in participation. Happiness is the by-product of doing what is right, of loving deeply, of working diligently, of living in harmony with one’s values. It appears not when summoned, but when earned through living rightly.

Consider the story of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who did not seek happiness, but compassion. Day after day, she walked among the poor and dying, performing acts of love so small they might have seemed invisible to the world. She did not chase joy — she chased duty, mercy, and human dignity. Yet in her humble smile, in her quiet peace amid suffering, we see the very embodiment of Levenson’s truth: happiness was not her pursuit, but her reward. For in serving others, she forgot herself — and in forgetting herself, she found joy beyond measure.

The paradox, then, is this: those who live only to be happy are never happy; those who live to be good, to be useful, to love and create, find happiness as their companion. The pursuit of happiness as an end is like trying to grasp water in one’s hand — the tighter the grip, the faster it slips away. But when one opens the hand and lets it flow freely — through kindness, through art, through courage — happiness fills it without effort. The wise therefore do not ask, “What will make me happy?” but “What is worth doing?” For joy lies hidden in the doing itself.

Levenson’s humor often cloaked this deeper understanding of life’s irony: that the more we demand pleasure, the more we distance ourselves from it. To seek happiness directly is to stare into the sun — one becomes blinded. But to act with purpose and integrity, to plant seeds and nurture others, is to walk in sunlight without even noticing how warm it feels. Happiness, then, is the echo of good deeds, the harvest of patience, the song of a life aligned with meaning.

And so, my listener of the present age, let this teaching settle in your heart: do not chase happiness — build it. Do your work with love, give without counting, and face the world with gratitude. Let your efforts, your relationships, your small daily choices become the soil in which joy takes root. When you cease asking whether you are happy and begin asking how you can serve, create, and grow, you will find, as Levenson did, that happiness has been walking beside you all along — unseen, unforced, and faithful.

For this is the final truth: happiness is not a prize, but a presence. It dwells where life is lived with honesty, courage, and compassion. Pursue meaning, and happiness will follow. Pursue happiness alone, and you will lose both. Therefore, act nobly, love generously, and work earnestly — and happiness, humble and radiant, will find you, right where you stand.