The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.

—Henry Miller

About Henry Miller

Portrait of Henry Miller

Henry Valentine Miller (December 26, 1891 – June 7, 1980) was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist. He broke with existing literary forms and developed a new type of semi-autobiographical novel that blends character study, social criticism, philosophical reflection, stream of consciousness, explicit language, sex, surrealist free association,...

More quotations from Henry Miller

He opens himself to all influences—everything nourishes him. Everything is gravy to him, including what he does not understand—particularly what he does not understand.

—Henry Miller

I have always looked upon decay as being just as wonderful and rich an expression of life as growth.

—Henry Miller

perspective growth decay richness

Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him.

—Henry Miller

acceptance destiny imperative

Now and then, at the sulfur baths, I meet a perfect specimen of health and vitality who was given up by the doctors years ago. They all tell the same story; they forgot their ailments, they ignored them, they found something to do—something of a serviceable nature—which made them forget themselves.

—Henry Miller

health vitality

It's good to be just plain happy; it's a little better to know that you're happy; but to understand that you're happy and to know why and how… and still be happy, be happy in the being and the knowing, well that is beyond happiness, that is bliss, and if you have any sense you ought to kill yourself on the spot and be done with it.

—Henry Miller

More quotations tagged with “joy”

This is the most joyful day that ever I saw in my pilgrimage on earth.

—Donald Cargill

Be joyful / though you have considered all the facts.

—Wendell Berry

Am I the person who used to wake in the middle of the night and laugh with the joy of living? Who worried about the existence of God, and danced with young ladies till long after daybreak? Who sang "Auld Lang Syne" and howled with sentiment, and more than once gazed at the full moon through a blur of great, romantic tears?

—Logan Pearsall Smith

God joy tears moon dancing

The soul's joy lies in doing.

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

action doing soul joy

The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world's joy.

—Henry Ward Beecher

History

22 Jul 2016 Added