07:11 Oct 19, 2009 

Thanks a lot, Rosa. There are a few hits for "Gluecklichsein ist keine Gabe des Schicksals...." on the net.

18:01 Oct 18, 2009 

"the inward feeling of happiness is NO gift of fate". Sounds good you should post this answer. I agree with you that there must be a mistake in the question.

15:59 Oct 18, 2009 

Hello everyone, this question has been bothering me and when I looked at the Google translation of the letter by Humboldt again which I had posted in support of my previous answers I noticed that the translation says "the inward feeling of happiness is NO gift of fate". The original German does not seem to be on many websites but it is found has "Gluecklichsein ist keine Gabe des Schicksals; not "Gluecklichsein ist eine Gabe des Schicksals" which is what the original question said. The idea that you have to work out your destiny and co-operate with what Fate and the gods have decreed stilll holds good though.

13:28 Oct 15, 2009 

It is not easy because it does not fit with our modern ideas of happiness. My best friend did Classics when we were at university and introduced me to some of these ideas. I had also come across Greek concepts of happiness in some of my own reading recently, Steve

13:00 Oct 15, 2009 

Thanks, I feel a bit more clued up now.

10:06 Oct 15, 2009 

HI Tom,
This is an ancient Greek conception of happinss
Yes it is a gift of fate but you have to co-operate with the designs of Fate - seen as a deity - in order to achieve happiness. The ancient Grrek view of these things change dover time and was insonsistent in some respects when seen from our viewpoint. The worst thing you could do was to rebel against the designs of the Gods. There is a good article on the subject at:
http://www.espacoacademico.com.br/059/59esp_lauriola.htm


I hope this helps!

Stephen

09:47 Oct 15, 2009 

Yes, exactly - no gift of fate; surely that should be keine Gabe des Schicksals, then?

09:36 Oct 15, 2009 

Thanks for telling us the quote was by Humboldt (a student of Ancient Greece!) i found the quote in English at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=zyNpXuSC40QC&pg=PA60&dq=Wil... Letters to a Female Friend Page 60 (Google Books)

17:59 Oct 14, 2009 

The German original quotes Wilhelm von Humboldt. There must be a translation already out there.

10:46 Oct 14, 2009 

"Jeder ist sein eigenes Schicksals Schmied," as they say in German. Schicksal often refers not to "fate" in German but to your situation in life. For example, "Ellen wird mit dem alltäglichen 'Schicksal' einer Hausfrau konfrontiert: Putzen, Kochen und Einkaufen."

09:53 Oct 14, 2009 

None of the suggestions above adequately reflect the German words Gluecklichsein ist eine Gabe des Schicksals - Happiness or being happy is a gift of fate. If you look at the text in the link you will see that the ancient concept of happiness - like the modern one is very complex: Does it come from being rich, doing your duty, loving for your family etc. The key thing is that must co-operate with what the Fates have decreed and not fight against it.
http://www.espacoacademico.com.br/059/59esp_lauriola.htm

09:01 Oct 14, 2009 

I read it, Thayenga

08:36 Oct 14, 2009 

Sounds more as if fate is said to have implanted the gift of happiness within us for us to then discover and utilize it. That wouldn't be quite so contradictive.

06:36 Oct 14, 2009 

I'll have to think about this one. :)

01:16 Oct 14, 2009 

It is a contradiction, but ours not to reason why...

22:35 Oct 13, 2009 

Does this saying make any sense to you? To me, it sounds like a complete contradiction; is it fate or my own personal efforts? It can't be both.

22:24 Oct 13, 2009 

Now I'm confused about whether happiness comes from within or without ...
If it's a "gift of fate" you wouldn't need to earn it yourself, would you?