# An Outlook on Happiness: A Poem by William Blake

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-outlook-on-happiness-a-poem-by-william-blake/349675>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 24, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-outlook-on-happiness-a-poem-by-william-blake/349675 "2006-03-24T03:21:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MessyPaint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@MessyPaint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MessyPaint)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-outlook-on-happiness-a-poem-by-william-blake/349675/1 "2006-03-24T03:21:10Z")

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I’ have been thinking a lot about happiness lately, and I have come to realize that whenever something good happens in my external world, I seem to ride the feeling out, relying on it, wrestling it to the ground until it does nothing for me. Soon after, i stumbled upon this poem during a book reading in Harvard Square, I’m not sure what is 🆒 to post in the cafe and what is :eek:, but I thought I would share it with you as it has brought a lot of joy to me and given me a much healthier outlook on life. Enjoy!

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Eternity, by William Blake

He who binds to himself a joy  
Does the winged life destroy;  
But he who kisses the joy as it flies  
Lives in eternity’s sun rise.