Shakespeare on Our Inability to Predict What Will Make Us Happy

All things that are,

Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd.

(Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene 6, Lines 921-922)

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Oh cousin!

That we should things desire, which do cost us

The loss of our desire! That nought could buy

Dear love, but loss of dear love!

(The Two Noble Kinsmen, Act 5, Scene 4, Lines 109-112, by John Fletcher and William Shakespeare, The Arden Shakespeare, third edition, Lois Potter, editor, Thomas Nelson and  Sons Ltd., 1997.)

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Past reason hunted, and no sooner had

Past reason hated, as a swallow'd bait

On purpose laid to make the taker mad;

Mad in pursuit and in possession so;

Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme;

A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe;

Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.

(Sonnet CXXIX, Lines 6-12)