Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get.

The quote distinguishes between external achievement and internal satisfaction. “Success” is framed as attainment—reaching desired outcomes—while “happiness” is framed as acceptance and appreciation of one’s actual circumstances. The pairing implies that accomplishment alone does not guarantee well-being; happiness depends on a receptive attitude toward what life delivers, including outcomes that differ from initial desires. As a compact piece of practical philosophy, it also warns against perpetual dissatisfaction: if wanting always outruns having, success can become hollow. The line’s appeal lies in its memorable symmetry, turning a common ambition (getting) into a deeper ethical-psychological challenge (liking).

“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”