Happiness habit of the day: ‘Happiness comes incidentally. Make it the object of pursuit, and it leads us a wild-goose chase’. American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s lesson on why chasing joy can make it harder to find

What if constantly searching for happiness is the very thing keeping it away? American author Nathaniel Hawthorne explored this idea more than 170 years ago, suggesting that joy often arrives naturally when people focus on living meaningfully rather than obsessively trying to achieve happiness itself.

In his 1851 work American Notebooks, Hawthorne wrote, “Happiness in this world, when it comes, comes incidentally. Make it the object of pursuit, and it leads us a wild-goose chase, and is never attained.” According to The Atlantic, Hawthorne’s thought reflects the Stoic philosophers’ “paradox of happiness”, which suggests that happiness cannot be reached by directly chasing it. Instead, it often appears as a by-product of meaningful actions, relationships and experiences.

The deeper meaning behind Hawthorne’s words

Hawthorne’s quote challenges the common belief that happiness is something people can achieve by constantly pursuing it. His message suggests that when happiness becomes the only goal, people may become trapped in an endless search, always believing that joy exists somewhere in the future.


Instead, his words encourage people to focus on the things that naturally create fulfilment, such as personal growth, purpose, connection and meaningful experiences. Happiness, in this view, is not a destination but something that appears along the journey.

Relevance of the quote

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s words remain relevant in a world where many people constantly chase happiness through money, achievements, social status or material success. The endless search for the “perfect” life can often create stress and disappointment because people keep postponing happiness for a future moment. His message reminds us that joy often comes while pursuing meaningful goals, building relationships, learning new things and appreciating everyday experiences. Instead of treating happiness as the final destination, focusing on a fulfilling journey can make life more satisfying.

Who was Nathaniel Hawthorne?

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer best known for exploring themes of morality, history, religion and human nature. Born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, Hawthorne came from a family with deep connections to the town.


He joined Bowdoin College in 1821, became a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1824 and graduated in 1825. His first published work, the novel Fanshawe, appeared in 1828, although Hawthorne later attempted to suppress it because he felt it did not represent the quality of his later writing.

His fiction became an important part of the Romantic movement, particularly dark romanticism. Many of his stories examined human flaws, guilt, sin and the complexity of the human mind, often carrying strong moral lessons.

Hawthorne’s journey as a writer

Before becoming one of America's most recognised literary figures, Hawthorne spent years writing in relative obscurity. He contributed short stories to magazines and annual publications, including famous works such as Young Goodman Brown and The Minister's Black Veil. In 1836, Hawthorne worked as the editor of the American Magazine of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge. He later accepted a position as a weigher and gauger at the Boston Custom House in 1839, earning $1,500 a year.


His breakthrough came when his friend Horatio Bridge offered to cover the financial risk of collecting his stories. The publication of Twice-Told Tales in 1837 helped establish Hawthorne as a recognised writer. Through his reflections on happiness and his exploration of human nature, Hawthorne’s words continue to remind readers that joy often appears when life is lived with purpose rather than when happiness itself becomes the only pursuit.