A round hand mirror displaying a yellow sun shape, resting on a green velvet cushion.

Original artwork, not a still

Sententiae

Publilius Syrus

No man is happy who does not think himself so.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Happiness, on this view, depends on your own opinion: nobody counts as happy unless they believe they are. It locates contentment in perception rather than circumstances, so a person with every advantage can still be unhappy while another feels fortunate.

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