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

Original artwork, not a still

Abraham Lincoln

People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker holds that happiness depends largely on choice and attitude rather than circumstance. People end up as content as they resolve to be. It is an optimistic claim, placing responsibility for good spirits in the individual's decision, though it may understate how hard that can be.

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