The Physics of Happiness: Tennyson
A son of the Victorian era, Alfred Lloyd Tennyson is known as the greatest Poet Laureate in history. Though it is simply an honorary position held within the monarchy of Great Britain, it is still highly distinguished, in large part because of Tennyson. The poems of the Poet Laureate are meant to capture the sentiment of the people in key moments within the life of the Kingdom.
Tennyson’s "Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington" and “The Charge of the Light Brigade” are his most famous and arguably the most famous of any written by a Poet Laureate.
For The Catholic Mentor, and the Physics of Happiness series, I look to one of his more obscure quotes as the day's teacher. Tennyson wrote: “The happiness of man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.”
The origins of the quote are unknown and there isn’t any context given around what prompted him to say it. But, to me, the reason why these words have survived nearly 200 years is because of how true they are. Let’s break it down in three parts.
Part One: The happiness of man in this life.
Whether I am evaluating a philosophy as a whole or a simple quote like this one, the first question almost always has to be, what are the unspoken assumptions of the idea. What is he or she assuming about humanity, eternity, God, nature, or science that is informing what I am reading?
What’s great about this quote and what’s great about Tennyson in general, is that he doesn’t pull many punches. He comes right out and tells you the assumptions with which the rest of the quote is derived from, we don’t have to go searching for it.
In seven words, Tennyson tells us the following: 1. Happiness can be found in this life; 2. The happiness humanity seeks is temporary; 3. His understanding of what leads to happiness is influenced by an eternal perspective. Some people write based on a finite view of life, as in, all we have is this world. Others, like Tennyson, take an eternal view of life. One of the great benefits of an eternal perspective is that it takes the pressure off the here and now to fulfill all of your desires. It can be ok to have a longing that goes unmet. Many of the worst decisions I’ve made (and I know I’m not alone!) have occurred when I tried to force the issue, manufacture happiness, and rush life.
Most people living in the modern era don’t consider eternity. They live as if every one of their desires must be fulfilled in the course of their life. But people like Tennyson, believed that some of what you want most in this life can only be fulfilled in the next one. Better yet, it’s actually the presence of a desire for something that cannot be fulfilled in the here and now that convinces him of an afterlife.
Part Two: Does not consist in the absence of passion
This statement is, in part, meant to be a critique of eastern philosophies like Buddhism which suggests that a life without passions is essential to happiness. It was also meant to be a critique of a string of Christianity of the time that treated desire and emotion as enemies of holiness.
What Tennyson is suggesting here, is an integrated view of happiness. Specifically that passions (desire and emotion) are inherently good. Can they be awful tyrants? Can they convince you to do self-destructive things? Can they ruin relationships? Absolutely. They have that power. But they also have the power to do tremendous good in your life and in the lives of others. Harnessing desire and emotion creates the potential for extraordinary happiness.
Happiness consists in the mastery of your passions
If your desire is subservient to your will. If your emotion is treated as a messenger (think of Paul Revere here) and a connector (to the heart of others). Then your passions can elevate your life. If your desire is oriented toward the good of the other, toward God and neighbor, then your desire will provide you the strength and the energy you need to love selflessly and often quite heroically. If your emotions are put in proper perspective (mainly that they don’t rise to the level of identity), then they can help you be aware of when you have veered off the path God has made you for (restlessness), they can help you speak truth where lies reign (anger), and they can help you become a listener capable of collaborating with God in the healing of others (through empathy).
Passion without discipline has the potential to create untold misery. Passions with discipline has the potential to create untold happiness. The choice is ours.
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If you need help on the road to mastering your passions, then schedule a REAL SESSION with The Catholic Mentor. It’s a free invitation to get REAL about where you are in life and where you are trying to go.
