Happiness is as a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond our grasp; but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

The image of happiness as a butterfly suggests that well-being is often indirect: the more aggressively one chases it as a goal, the more it recedes. The quote contrasts restless pursuit with receptive stillness, implying that happiness tends to arise as a byproduct of attention, patience, and a settled mind rather than as something seized by force of will. It also hints at the role of conditions—creating a calm, hospitable inner life—so that joy can “alight” naturally. In this sense, the saying aligns with traditions that emphasize contentment, mindfulness, and the paradox that fulfillment is found less in striving than in presence.