General Education

Pope Francis on the Secular Secret of Happiness

Pope Francis on the Secular Secret of Happiness
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Maria Popova profile
Maria Popova May 18, 2015

"Take time off. Live and let live... Work for peace. Work at a job that offers basic human dignity... Move calmly through life. Enjoy art, books and playfulness."

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How heartening to consider that the Catholic Church might finally have a Pope who is at heart a philosopher. In his wonderful New York Times essay titled "Pope Francis and the Art of Joy," Timothy Egan writes:

Last year, [Pope Francis] was asked about his secret to happiness. He said slow down. Take time off. Live and let live. Don’t proselytize. Work for peace. Work at a job that offers basic human dignity. Don’t hold on to negative feelings. Move calmly through life. Enjoy art, books and playfulness.

And how heartening to observe the profound interfaith parallel – this reads much like the Dalai Lama's prescription for happiness.

Then again, secular sage Wendell Berry has been preaching this for decades and Montaigne for centuries.

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