What Arthur C. Brooks thinks about happiness
Social scientist who writes about happiness; president of the American Enterprise Institute from 2009 to 2019, professor at Harvard from 2019 to 2026, and a Vanderbilt professor from July 2026; author of From Strength to Strength.
Arthur C. Brooks did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
5 dated positions, 2013 to 2024, in their own words. Our reading of what Arthur C. Brooks has said — not written or endorsed by them.
The line under a date shows how recently it was said: empty within a month, full after three years.
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Their wordsMy own assessment of the evidence is that money alone cannot buy happiness, nor can spending money to acquire possessions make one happy; but having the money to pay for experiences with loved ones, to free up time to spend on meaningful activities, and to support good causes does enhance happiness.
↗Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life (The Atlantic, How to Build a Life; reposted by AEI)aei.org 1st of 3 in this piece
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Our readingThe aim should be lifelong progress toward being happier, not a search for pure happiness.
Their wordsDo not fall prey to seeking pure happiness. Instead, seek lifelong progress toward happierness.
↗Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life (The Atlantic, How to Build a Life; reposted by AEI)aei.org 2nd of 3 in this piece
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Their wordsCultivate deep relationships through marriage, family, and real friendships. Remember that happiness is love.
↗Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life (The Atlantic, How to Build a Life; reposted by AEI)aei.org 3rd of 3 in this piece
- 10 years earlier
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Our readingGiving in to the drives for admiration, splendour and physical licence brings unhappiness.
Their wordsOf course you are driven to seek admiration, splendor and physical license. But giving in to these impulses will bring unhappiness.
↗Love People, Not Pleasure (The New York Times, reposted by AEI)aei.org 2nd of 2 in this piece
- 7 months earlier
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Their wordsIt turns out that choosing to pursue four basic values of faith, family, community and work is the surest path to happiness, given that a certain percentage is genetic and not under our control in any way.
↗A Formula for Happiness (The New York Times, reposted by AEI)aei.org
The line under a date fills as the words age, a quarter at a time: past a month, six months, a year, and three years. Empty means said within the last month; full, more than three years ago. It says when, not whether it still holds — a change of mind is marked on the claim itself.
Dashed means we only know the words existed by that date; they may be older.