Who said “joy's a subtle elf, I think man's happiest when he forgets himself.”?

Verified

Cyril Tourneur. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Revenger's Tragedy (1607), Act IV. Sc. 4.

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“joy's a subtle elf, I think man's happiest when he forgets himself.”
— Cyril Tourneur
VerifiedThe Revenger's Tragedy (1607), Act IV. Sc. 4. · evidenceJoy
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Revenger's Tragedy (1607), Act IV. Sc. 4..

APA

Tourneur, C. (n.d.). joy's a subtle elf, I think man's happiest when he forgets himself. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24672-joys-a-subtle-elf-i-think-mans-happiest/

MLA

Tourneur, Cyril. “joy's a subtle elf, I think man's happiest when he forgets himself.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24672-joys-a-subtle-elf-i-think-mans-happiest/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Tourneur, Cyril. “joy's a subtle elf, I think man's happiest when he forgets himself.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/24672-joys-a-subtle-elf-i-think-mans-happiest/.

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“Joy, rather than happiness, is the goal of life, for joy is the emotion which accompanies our fulfilling our natures as human beings. It is based on the experience of one's identity as a being of worth and dignity.”
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