“And for the first time in their existence, their mean, unhappy lives became happy and meaningful because of one simple phrase... LOVE.”

“Existence is more important than happiness; we can’t live without existence, but we can live with unhappiness!”

“He himself didn't see it as exceptionally altruistic, because he had understood one can't be truly happy in isolation or, worse, among unhappy people. The best protection against danger, unhappiness and the sordidness of human existence is to be surrounded by people who love you.”

“The happiness of one does not mean the unhappiness of the others.”

“If the sun is shining, stand in it- yes, yes, yes. Happy times are great, but happy times pass- they have to- because time passes. The pursuit of happiness is more elusive; it is life-long, and it is not goal-centred. What you are pursuing is meaning- a meaningful life... There are times when it will go so wrong that you will be barely alive, and times when you realise that being barely alive, on your own terms, is better than living a bloated half-life on someone else's terms.”

“To be engaged in some small way in the revival of one of the great cities of the world is to live a meaningful existence by default.”