I'm a happy man, because I am successful in what I do, of course;

The words of Novak Djokovic — “I'm a happy man, because I am successful in what I do, of course; but what makes me most happy is I have people around me that I love and who love me back. This, for me, is the most important thing. Nobody likes to be alone.” — are simple in form, yet profound in spirit. They speak not only of the joy found in victory, but of a deeper triumph: the discovery that love and connection are the true foundations of happiness. From the lips of a champion who has conquered the courts of the world, these words remind us that no trophy, no applause, no worldly glory can fill the quiet emptiness of a heart without companionship and affection.

Djokovic’s life, carved through the discipline of sport, mirrors the ancient truth that success without love is hollow. He has endured countless battles — not only against rivals across the net, but against injury, pressure, and doubt. In the lonely silence between matches, when the crowd fades and the stadium grows still, even the greatest must confront the solitude that fame cannot silence. And it is here, in those unseen hours, that he found the truth he speaks of: that the warmth of human bonds is greater than the heat of any triumph. For what is victory if there is no one to share it with?

The ancients, too, knew this wisdom. In the epic tales of Greece, mighty Achilles won immortal glory in battle, yet died young and alone, his heart heavy with grief for his lost friend, Patroclus. His victories echoed through eternity, but his loneliness echoed louder still. By contrast, the philosopher Aristotle taught that friendship — philia — is essential to the good life, for it anchors the soul in mutual goodness. “Without friends,” he said, “no one would choose to live.” In this, Djokovic’s words are no different from Aristotle’s, for both proclaim that love, not achievement, gives meaning to existence.

To say, “Nobody likes to be alone,” is not weakness — it is wisdom. For solitude, though sometimes sacred, becomes sorrow when it lingers too long. Man was not fashioned to walk through life as an island, but as part of a greater harmony of hearts. Even the strongest falter when isolated. The soldier needs his comrades, the artist needs his muse, the child needs his mother, and the elder his friends. Love completes strength; it softens the edges of ambition and gives the soul rest.

In the modern world, where success is worshipped like a golden idol, Djokovic’s words are a gentle rebellion. They remind us that happiness cannot be measured in medals or wealth, but in the depth of our relationships. The man who loves and is loved is richer than any king, for he carries within him a kingdom that no loss can overthrow. This is why the greatest of victories are not the ones won in stadiums or parliaments, but those won in the quiet chambers of the heart — the moments when we forgive, embrace, listen, and simply stand beside those who stand beside us.

Think of Nelson Mandela, who endured 27 years in prison, stripped of freedom and recognition. When he emerged, it was not bitterness that filled him, but love — for his people, for humanity, for the very world that had once caged him. He understood, as Djokovic does, that the measure of happiness is not success itself, but love sustained through struggle. The love that forgives, the love that endures, the love that binds — this is the true victory that no power can erase.

The lesson, then, is clear and timeless: cherish the people who walk with you. Tend to your relationships as a gardener tends his garden, for they are the soil from which all joy grows. Let ambition drive you, but let love guide you. Seek excellence, but never at the cost of kindness. For when the noise of the world fades and the lights of achievement dim, it is the hearts beside you — the family, the friends, the ones who truly see you — that will make the silence golden.

So, my listener, remember Djokovic’s truth: success may lift you high, but love keeps you alive. Gather those you cherish close, and let gratitude be your daily victory. For in the end, happiness is not found in the roar of the crowd, but in the quiet company of those who love you — and in the peace of knowing that you love them in return.