Can Another Person Make You Happy? | Happiness Hour

Life Audio.

On today's episode of Timeless Wisdom.

Number 1, only you can make you happy. No one else can. Number 2, others can make you unhappy, even if you're happy. But number 3, if you are happy, others can definitely add to your happiness. So in other words, we have very powerful impact on the happiness of others, and others do upon us, except for one.

Exception.

If you're unhappy, they can't make you happy. Alrighty, so what do you say, folks? What do you say about this?

First of all, let me begin— I didn't tell your screener this, but let me begin by telling you I'm totally blind, and— but I don't let that stop me from doing things.

When did you become blind?

I was born that way.

Oh, good.

I have some questions to ask you, okay?

Okay, if you don't mind taking up the time on that.

No, no, on the what? I won't. That's right.

I am too interested in people blind That's coming up on Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager.

When someone you love is hurting, what do you do? We're often quick to say, if there's anything I can do, just let me know. But what if we stopped waiting to be asked and simply showed up? On the If There Is Anything I Can Do podcast, Pam McConnell shares real stories, biblical wisdom, and practical ways to walk alongside people through grief, loss, and life's hardest moments. Learn how to show up and make a difference. Subscribe now at klovpodcast.com.

Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Hear thousands of hours of Dennis' lectures, courses, and classic radio programs. And to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles, go to DennisPrager.com.

It's the happy, happy, happy, happy hour.

Yes, it is.

Yes, it is. Hey, everybody, this is the Happiness Hour on the Dennis Prager Show. Come hell or high water, we have it. That's correct. In fact, blood, frogs, lice, wild beasts, hail, darkness— nothing will stop the Happiness Hour from taking place. This, in fact, this show did begin in ancient Egypt. During— actually, it was during the 3rd plague of boils. That is right, during boils. I had boils myself, and, and even then I broadcast the Happiness Hour. That is, that is how deep my devotion to this subject is. Hi everybody, this is Dennis Prager, and every Friday at this hour the subject is happiness. And I'll tell you why, because I can't say this too often. Happiness is of overwhelming importance. I consider it up there with goodness, integrity, character. How do you like that, folks? I never would have said this 15 years ago. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever. You should get my, my, you should get my, my tape on happiness because I explain how this happened in my life. I will. You know what? I will one day on the radio. But I, I have come to understand the centrality of happiness to the human condition, and that how we have a moral obligation to everybody in our life— our children, our parents, our spouse, our friends, our coworkers— to be as happy as we can be. That's right, we do. Ask anybody who was raised by an unhappy parent what it was like, and you'll understand how important Happiness is not just other good things like character, which is certainly up there. As you know, I talk about that much of the rest of the week. Happiness is a moral obligation. That is right. You owe it to you. You— if you believe in God, you owe it to God. And that is how deep it is. All right. That's why I devote an hour a week to it. Happy people make the world better. Unhappy people rarely do. Some do, some do, though not the people around them, but the world maybe. So that's why I devote an hour a week to the subject of happiness. Today's subject is, can another person make you happy? Now let me tell you something.

This is—

this— most of my happiness hours consist of me offering an idea. that can hopefully change your life in light of happiness. By the way, let me just state at the outset, I spent 10 years writing a book on happiness. It was a bestseller when it came out. I believe it will change your life if you read it. It's called Happiness Is a Serious Problem, published by HarperCollins. Happiness Is a Serious Problem. Okay, got that out of the way, because I don't know how you listen to this one each week and not want to read that, but I think a lot of you have.

All right.

Now, here is a departure a little bit from the norm. The norm is I offer an idea that I hope will really affect your life and affect your happiness. You call in, you question it, you react, you affirm it, whatever you will have to say. Today, I rather— I am going to do something more of exploring a very complex but incredibly important aspect to happiness, and that is Now listen carefully. Don't call in yet. You're calling in. No, don't, don't, don't. Wait and hear. This is very important. Then I will take your calls. Can another person make you happy? Now, I have always argued the following. Another person can't make you happy. Another person can make you unhappy. That, that generally speaking, our ability to make others unhappy is much greater than our ability to make others happy. And it's true. I mean, that, that I still believe that. For example, uh, here, take children. If your child is unhappy, you're going to be unhappy. I mean, that's the way it is. But if your child is happy, That doesn't mean that you will be happy. There are people with happy children who have unhappy lives, who are unhappy themselves. Absolutely. I mean, it's not even a question. I'm not talking about 5-year-olds. I'm talking about an adult child and a parent. So there's a good example of where you are the happy person in your life. your child, your spouse, your friend, can, well, may not make you happy, but if that person's unhappy, it can make you unhappy. So I have usually left it there, but I was talking to Alan prior to this Happiness Hour subject. I said, you know what, this concept, this question is more complex than what I normally say. And I, and I still hold what I normally say to be absolutely true. The ability of others to make you unhappy is much greater than the ability of others to make you happy. You have to make you happy, not others. That is, I, it is, it is a given.

It is a given.

It is a given and given and given and given. You are the only one who can make you happy. However, however, it is not true to say That others cannot increase your happiness. So let me now make 2 points, 2 important points on this subject. Number one, only you can make you happy. That I stand, I stand with, I affirm absolutely. You can't rely on another person to make you happy. However, it doesn't end there. A person can increase your happiness if you are already happy. And in this regard, and this is a new point in the Happiness Hour, never made this point before because I just thought it up today. Friends, or not our friends, other people are like money. Money does not make the unhappy happy. Money, though, can increase the happiness of those who are already happy. So others can increase your happiness. Others can make you unhappy, but others can never make you happy. Do you get it? Is that clear? It is?

Good.

1, now you can call. Do you agree? Does this make sense? Would you like me to explain it? Do you have an example? 1-8-PRAGER-776. That's numerically, digitally, 1-877-243-7776. 1-877-243-7776, or 1-8-PRAGER, P-R-A-G-E-R, 776. Now let's— so there were 3 theses. Yes, indeed. Do you know that I was once called in at a former radio station and told not to use the word thesis on the radio? It was too advanced for the audience. I give you my word of honor. I swear to you. So every time I use that term now on the radio, I think of that program director who told me that. Okay, I've hyperventilated and I got it out of my system. Now let me repeat the three theses on this thing. Number one, only you can make you happy. No one else can. Number two, others can make you unhappy even if you're happy. But number three, if you are happy, others can definitely add. To your happiness. So in other words, we have very powerful impact on the happiness of others, and others do upon us, except for one exception: if you're unhappy, they can't make you happy. Alrighty, so what do you say, folks? What do you say about this? And I want the reactions on this. Now, for example, I won't take this call even though I fully agree and I know it's a wise call. So Joanie, please understand. She says that happiness is a decision, like looking at a glass half full or half empty. That is absolutely right, Joanie. There is no question, but it's not on subject. Okay? I argue all the time happiness is a decision. That's what you must decide. I will be happy or I will act happy. I did a program that was— I always say this is one of the most important happiness hours I ever did. I almost always say that because it's true. But I will tell you that the one where I said it's a decision that you make is up there in the top 10. And when I said act it even if you don't feel it, because we transform our insides by how we act outside. Just like, by the way, if you start acting kind, you know what? It'll transform you into a kinder person inside. That's one of the reasons I prefer capitalism to socialism. You have to treat customers nice or you lose your job. It's very hard to become cruel after treating people nice all day at work. That's right. Well, it's— it can be done, but it's harder. All right, the effect of others on happiness is the subject of the Happiness Hour on the Dennis Prager Show. We return in a moment to it. Don't go away.

This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. Who answers America's call for more energy? Our people do. Chevron's U.S. energy production has increased by nearly 60% in the past 3 years.

Hi, my name is Aaron, and I'm a well site representative at Chevron. I'm proud of the work that I do every day. It gets more American oil out of the ground, and it brings America more energy security.

Learn more about what our people do at chevron.com/america. Now, back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom.

I have lectured on happiness on all 7 continents, by the way, including Antarctica. You can see a picture of me speaking to penguins on my website. Since there are no people in Antarctica, I had to Somehow speak to somebody to say 7 continents. I've written a book on it, Happiness Is a Serious Problem, and I have incorporated these ideas into my own life. This is an exceedingly important subject. Today's subject is very powerful, and we have never covered this. Can the effect of others on your happiness— again, my 3-pronged approach. One, no one else can make you happy. Only you can make you happy. Number 2, others can make you unhappy if you are happy. Number 3, if you are happy, others can increase your happiness. Okay, let us go to your calls here, and we begin in Springfield, Oregon, on KEE-D. And hello to Denise. Denise, I was supposed to be a Denise, but when I came out a boy—

Oh, really?

I want you to know this. I— this is how I got the name Dennis.

I understand.

Yep. No, you don't. You didn't, because I didn't tell you yet. I was supposed to be a Denise. When I came out, they saw I was a boy, and they said, aye, Dennis. No thought given, but they loved the name Denise. Go ahead, Denise. Thanks.

I'm calling to let you know that I agree completely with what you're saying, and especially the part where being happy— when you're already happy, that someone can increase your happiness.

Yes.

Listening to your show brightens my day every day.

No kidding.

Love your show, love your show, love your show.

Thank you. That is— that's great. Even when I talk about heavy-duty subjects?

Absolutely, because you do it with such class.

Oh, I love the word class. Do you know, by the way, do you know kids today, if you say, you know, that there's no class if you do that or talk like— they don't know what you're talking about. The word class actually has a bad connotation, because it implies class.

Exactly. Well, that goes into the degradation of our educational system, but we won't get into that.

Well, we won't, because this is the Happiness Hour. That's my girl. That's right.

Yes.

But, uh, to listen to you— I've listened to a number of other morning programs, and when I found yours, it's like a vitamin. Because you are always happy, even though serious topics are discussed.

Right.

There is such a—

Well, let me tell you something. This is very meaningful what you say to me, and I thank you immensely, but I want to tell you, I try to live by what I advocate on the Happiness Hour. I try. I don't say I fully succeed, but I have been transformed by these ideas as much as anybody listening to them. They have affected me, so I know the importance of trying to be as happy as possible.

And you know, that comes through, because if you were not sincere and if you had not integrated this paradigm shift, it would not come through in the consistency with which you deal even with people who disagree with you. Well, that's wonderful. There's a consistency in your demeanor that is absolutely delightful.

Well, thank you.

And that's a blessing to all of us.

Wow.

Listen, I'm so— it's good it's not TV. I'm all red. Denise, God bless you. It's all I could say. I did not expect this because it was not listed as your topic, but good. If you know, that's a good point though. If I can contribute, there's a— if you're already happy and everybody's happy has unhappiness, let's be clear, and has many have terrible pain, in fact. But pain and unhappiness are not the same thing. That is something that I constantly stress in the book and have to tell you folks. One of the reasons a lot of unhappy Americans is that so many think that avoidance of pain equals happiness. That's why a lot of guys don't get married. They equate commitment with pain, which to the male nature it is. It is. That's that's how the male nature thinks. Oh my God! Can't touch any other women woman till I die. Okay, but there but you are not going to be happy staying single the rest of your life. Okay. Thank you. Let's go to Baltimore, W.I.T.H. in Baltimore, Maryland. Hello, Paul, this is Dennis Prager. Thank you for calling.

Yeah, first of all, let me begin— I didn't tell your screener this, but let me begin by telling you I'm totally blind, but I don't let that stop me from doing things.

When did you become blind?

I was born that way.

Oh, good. I have some questions to ask you, OK?

OK, if you don't mind taking up the time on the hotline.

No, no, on the what? I won't. That's right. I am too interested in people blind from birth. It fascinates me, so I gotta ask you a couple of questions.

Okay, okay, shoot away.

Thank you. Number one, uh, does the word color mean anything to you?

No.

That's what I thought. Well, how is this then? Do you understand if somebody says, I see something?

Well, yeah, I perceive it, or I, uh, perceive it. That's the way I look at it.

That one perceives it?

Yeah. See, I speak Esperanto. You may have heard of that.

Of course, the universal language, yeah.

I, even though that's my second language, I kind of, uh, whenever I hear a word that I don't understand, I just kind of like in my head translate it into Esperanto, and, uh, it comes out a little bit more of a better meaning, shall we say.

Right, but if I say to you that, um, you don't, you obviously don't know what a person looks like.

No.

Exactly.

I could tell by the sound of his or her voice whether they're short or tall, that sort of thing.

Right, and that of course is imaginable, short or tall. So it really is— of course, there are certain concepts that cannot be explained unless experienced, and seeing is one of them.

True.

Just like I couldn't explain to one who never heard what hearing is.

That's true.

You'd ask Helen Keller that question.

Oh God, yes. Well, that's very different. Now, uh, let's see here. Uh, are you married?

No, I'm single. I'm, I'm, I'm content in my single life.

No, no, no, that can happen. I fully acknowledge that. All right, my friend, I, I'm not taking from your time. Shoot away.

Okay, about happiness. Um, one of, one of my hobbies, and I like to make it an extension of a hobby, because I enjoy, I enjoy taping, you know, making audio cassettes from my collection of old records and radio. And what I do, while I myself am happy to keep them, I like to pass them along. And I used to belong to a tape club which is no longer in existence for different reasons. And the tapes that I would send, as well as other members, would go around to, oh, maybe about 100 or 150 people. So you would get answers back like, I particularly like this particular number or that song that you sent. So, you know, you're passing on the happiness to others even though you are keeping it yourself. Do you get my idea?

Yes.

In other words, we increase— and we certainly don't decrease— but we can increase our happiness by affecting others' happiness.

Yeah.

Let me ask you one question while we're on the happiness thing.

Okay.

What about altruism? Is altruism equated with happiness?

No. It's not equated, but in my book, and let's see, I think it's on tape, so obviously—

I don't have access to the web, so I have no idea how I could copy that.

Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna look it up and announce it. But anyway, the— what was your question again?

About altruism.

Oh yes, I do have a chapter on why I believe good people are happier than bad people. And I will tell it to you in a moment. I'll tell it to you now. Paul, thank you for calling.

You're welcome. Bye.

Bye-bye. And let me tell you, folks, I'll tell you why. In fact, I'll tell you as soon as we get back. It's very important because a lot of people think, you know, I can't raise my kid to be all that ethical and stuff. It's a dog-eat-dog world and they'll, you know, they'll lose out. Or people think, oh, the good guy comes in last. You know, Leo de Rocher's famous line, good guys finish last. I will give you one basic reason. Why I believe good people are happier than bad people. We'll be back in a moment. You're listening to The Dennis Prager Show, 1-800-PRAGER-776.

This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. Who answers America's call for more energy? Our people do. Chevron's U.S. energy production has increased by nearly 60% in the past 3 years.

Hi, my name is Aaron, and I'm a well site representative at Chevron. I'm proud of the work that I do every day. It gets more American oil out of the ground, and it brings America more energy security.

Learn more about what our people do at chevron.com/america. Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom.

I believe that happiness is ironically among the most underrated of the most important things in life. There is nothing, almost nothing more important. There, there, and I, as I get older, the more I believe that. And I will tell you one other thing. When I meet people who are happy, I have admiration for them because life is very tough. It's tough for everyone, even the most blessed. It's tough. And, uh, when you have attained— when you, uh, have a happy demeanor, I salute you. Anyway, the last caller wanted to know, uh, our, uh, a blind caller from Baltimore, is there the connection between goodness and happiness? Which is not exactly the subject, but I will answer it anyway. Very quickly, good people are happier than bad people as a rule. There are good unhappy people. That is true. But they would be better if they were happy. That's a separate issue. Why are good people happier than bad people? Very simply, because bad people can never be properly loved or properly love. That's why. They, they, they think that others will treat them the way they treat others. And therefore they will largely be alone in life, whereas good people bring people into their lives. For that alone. There are many other reasons, but that alone is the— is as big as any. Alrighty, over to Diamond Bar, California. And I believe you, Dennis, are listening on KRLA 870, is that right?

Yeah.

Hi, Dennis. What's on your mind? Welcome to the Happiness Hour.

Well, I want to disagree with you.

I think unhappy people can be made happy by happy people.

I, I— that's the job of psychiatrists and psychologists.

No, it isn't. But it's very— that's why I took your call, and it's a very important call. And I'll give you my, my response, and you tell me if you still think there's a contradiction or I'm wrong. The good therapist— and I believe in good therapy, the problem is a lot of therapists are not good— But I, but when a therapist does his or her job, what they are doing is enabling you to make you happy. If you depend on your psychiatrist to be happy, you will never be happy, and they will all tell you that. After all, the best therapist gets rid of you. So obviously, they are not the source of your happiness. They are enabling you to get rid of the impediments in your life to your unhappiness. That is all a therapist could do. It's huge, but that is all one can do.

That's true, but there is still that outside force that brings about—

but that's my—

the reason I say this is because I think that's the hope of humankind, is to bring about happiness where there's misery in the world. I mean, if we can't do that, then there isn't much hope for any of us.

I agree with you. That's why I believe in therapy. It's why— one of the reasons I so believe in religion. Absolutely. I think that anything that you can do to increase your happiness should be utilized.

I think that holds true for what's going on in the Middle East.

If we can't bring about—

I think that Muslims have a kind of a sadomasochistic relationship with their God and also their leaders.

Well, we can never say the, but you can certainly say the militant Muslims. Yes, that's right. I think I think that there is a lot of pathology, especially in the Arab world. I do. I agree with you. They're not happy. These are not happy people. They're not raised happily. Read books on it like The Arab Mind. One of the most— it's on my list of the 10 books that most affected my thinking. But I don't want to get into that because it's another subject. But you're right. These people are not happy people. They are squashed. They are squashed, I think, religiously, many of them, uh, personally, in their— in the way they're raised, in the, in the, in the staggeringly, uh, unhealthy relations between men and women. All right, anyway, thank you for your call. I, I want to repeat what, uh, what I said to Dennis here about a therapist. A therapist doesn't make you happy. A therapist enables you To make you happy. Nobody whom you have an hour or meet an hour a week makes you happy. And you get rid of them when you achieve it. Whereas friends, obviously, as an example, relatives, these people are with you forever. I will continue. Only you can make you happy. Others can make you unhappy. But if you're happy, others can increase your happiness. My 3-pronged thesis on the effect of others on our own happiness on this, the Happiness Hour. Phone number: 1-800-PRAGER-776. You're listening to The Dennis Prager Show and the Happiness Hour.

This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. Who answers America's call for more energy? Our people do. They've helped boost Chevron's U.S. energy production by nearly 60% in the past 3 years, helping fuel national energy security, and drives down the open roads that make America. Learn more about what our people do at chevron.com/america. Now, back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom.

Alrighty, my friends, you're listening to The Dennis Prager Show, the hour each week devoted to the subject of happiness because of how important I believe it is. God bless the founders of this country for saying life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of Independence. The— I think the only country that did, that put it as one of the ideals. That's right. Equality's not there, but pursuit of happiness is. And by the way, they are often unrelated. Indeed, sometimes they are in contradiction, the pursuit of equality and the pursuit of happiness. We will put that aside because it's not a political or philosophical— well, it's a philosophical hour, but you know what I mean. Now, again, the subject this hour is, can others make you happy? Number 1, only you can make you happy. 2, others can make you unhappy but not happy. Number 3, If you are happy, others can increase your happiness. They just can't make you happy. One of the ramifications of this is how you marry. You can't marry thinking he or she will make you happy. Yeah, I'm unhappy, but I'll get married and he or she will make me happy. That is a guarantor of unhappiness for both of you. And I bet that happens a lot of times. Big mistake, even though it is a very natural thing to do. Get happy, then marry. Fix yourself up, then get married. 1-800-PRAGER-776. Steve in— let's excuse me— Mike in Denver. Sorry about that, Steve. The temptation there must have been terrible. In Denver on KNUS, it's Mike. Mike, Dennis Prager, welcome to the Happiness Hour.

Hi. Hi, Dennis.

Hi.

I am a psychotherapist, and I can't agree with you more on what you said with your last caller about the purpose of psychotherapy.

Oh, good. I'm delighted.

And I'll also tell you that I try never to miss the Happiness Hour. You would be pleasantly surprised to know how much of your wisdom makes its way back to my clients.

You can't imagine how important that is to me to know. I am pleased, not just for me from an ego standpoint, but I am pleased to know that I share the views of a lot of therapists, because it makes me believe even more in therapy to know that. So thank you. I'm glad you do.

My pleasure. Well, listen, I wanted to take exception, though. I wanted to disagree with your postulate that others can make you unhappy. I think if you're gonna say that you're responsible for your own happiness, then you would have to acknowledge that one needs to be able to salvage happiness from pain from time to time in their life. Is that true?

Absolutely. There's no— you have no choice.

Okay, and so I would agree that others can, can make you hurt, can provide you with pain from time to time. But if you say that others can make you unhappy, yeah, then you can't be responsible for your own happiness. Your happiness—

Well, I—

is still in some ways dependent on others' behavior.

That's very true, but, but it's, it's, it's fair. I mean, look, let's take an extreme case. You are You know, the Nazis round you up and put you into a death camp, they have made you unhappy. I mean, while—

Well, certainly, Dennis, certainly heinous acts were committed.

All right, so, all right, all right, I went to the most extreme, but let's go to less extreme. A parent with a child who dies, a child is killed. I mean, there, I know a lot of parents whose children have died, only, which most people don't know a lot of such people, but I By being public, I know more people, and so therefore I'll experience more. And you know it too, we'd be given a therapist. Now, sure, is, is there— have you ever encountered in, in all your years of, of being a therapist a parent who lost a child who regained the original happiness they had?

Well, I would not say that they regained their joy in that child that, that they, that they got when the child was born and as they raise it. But I would all— let me assure you, Dennis, That I always encourage my clients who have lost a loved one of any nature—

Well, loved one is not— loved one, I don't think, is the same as a child.

Well, I am childless, so there may be more to it than I'm aware of, but let me say this. If I have a client whose child has died, I encourage that client to know that happiness is available, that they walk through a season of pain, but that happiness is not denied them as a result of that.

I agree, I agree. Uh, but obviously there's a period of time of such where the pain does affect one's happiness.

Sure.

And so what about— what about— well, wait a minute. I mean, have you counseled couples in an awful marriage?

Oh, I do a lot of that.

All right, then fine. Then you're telling me that an awful marriage doesn't affect your happiness?

Well, it certainly does, but the first thing— the first thing I try to teach people who are in a very unhappy marriage is that they can disengage from their partner's behavior that is— that has been making them unhappy. I, I always— I tell people, hey, if your happiness depends on your spouse's behavior, then who's in charge? And, and that, that really motivates them to understand that they're in charge of their happiness.

No, I agree.

I—

you know what, we're in total agreement. I think it, it's almost at a, at a point of such fine-tuning, uh, I'm simply contrasting. I'm saying others can't make you happy, but they have a greater ability to make you unhappy. You're saying even there we have to determine for ourselves. I agree with you, but what would you tell a spouse who was beaten by a spouse?

Yeah, and that is a large part of my practice is domestic violence.

All right, what do you tell that spouse? Be happy anyway?

Well, no, when I get a victim of domestic violence, and they are as often male as female, Right, okay. The solution is the same for both of them. What I do is I start to say, other than physical safety, let's assume first that, or, you know, that they're able to come to the determination that their physical safety is not at risk. And then, then my question is, uh, do you, you know, one, are— do you feel like you would be happier without any marriage?

Well, exactly. All right, in other words, they have to get rid of the person who's making them unhappy. They have to divorce in that case.

Yeah, and, and, and, and, and, and in that event, they are taking responsibility.

Oh, I agree. Oh, God bless you. Okay, Mike, thank you. We agree then. Until they get rid of that person, that person is making them unhappy. I just don't want to disqualify the notion for many people listening that another can never decrease your happiness. Of course they can. Great call, and because it forced us to explore it even further. So I want to make that clear again by 3 things. Only you can make you happy. 2, others cannot make you happy, but they have the ability to make you unhappy. Then you have to figure out what to do about that. And number 3, others can increase your happiness if you're already happy. That's true. It's like money. Money cannot make you happy if you're unhappy, but if you're happy, money can make you happier. Just talk to me about my stereo system. We'll be back in a moment. I'm Dennis Prager.

Hi Dennis, my name is Alex from Los Angeles, and I was just driving and I heard a Kindness Wisdom episode, and I just thought, hey, I'll give you a call. I actually met you One time at the, uh, you were at Mel's next to your work and we shook hands. But anyway, I hope you, uh, are doing well. I hope you are improving and, uh, and wish you the best of health and many years with your family. All the best. Hi Dennis, my name is Dan. We miss you and love you. And are praying for your health.

I hope you're well. I hope you're getting better. We really, really miss you.

You're doing a wonderful service.

I'm glad to hear you're back on the, on the radio.

Thank you.

The question on this Happiness Hour final segment, uh, is the question of can others make you happy? And my, my theory on that. Let's go to Father John in Minneapolis on the Patriot. Hello, Father, thanks for calling.

Blessings, Dennis.

Thank you.

See, I'm sure enjoying this.

Oh, good.

I just called to throw in a pitch for your fine-tuning of this topic. I taught a course in a secular college on ethics. I'm sure you're acquainted with Epicurus.

Yes.

Now, his definitions of ethics Ethics is the pursuit of happiness through the practice of virtue. So I want to point out 2 things there. Uh, goodness is key to this.

I agree. I said that to the caller from Baltimore. Go ahead.

And without it, uh, you're— and now I changed his definition when I taught a little bit. I had to change a few things. They told me I couldn't wear my collar and I couldn't use the word God. However, you know what the word ethics means. It's from God, of God.

I didn't, I didn't know that. Tell me that. Say that.

Well, it's like atheist. It means away from God. A-theos. A is from, but away from. E is from or of, the source of. Theos is God.

Hey, I love it!

I love it!

Isn't that great?

So you made my year.

But now what I want you to do a little bit is on the word happiness, because in our Constitution That thing has been so perverted that sad people have even stolen the name gay. I know 3 men named Gay, but I have counseled many gay people.

I hear you, Mike.

And none of them are happy.

Yeah, no, I know. Well, some are, but anyway. Father, only because of the time, you have made my day. Ethics from God, I love it. Thank you so much, my dear friend. I'm glad you listened. Eric in West LA, you don't have a lot of time, but I love your subject. Go ahead. On 870 KRLA. Hello, Eric.

Oh, how you doing? I'll be quick and to the point. Do you think that music provides a false or a real happiness? And my quick and, uh, sort of devil's advocate thoughts are, there were obviously Nazis who enjoyed Beethoven and Mozart and then proceeded to do, you know, profoundly evil things. So what are your thoughts on that?

I don't know. A lifetime of music loving and listening I— it's for— it soothes, and it soothes my— it soothes me. I have endorphins. I know that I'm secreting endorphins when I hear music. When I'm sad, it expresses my sadness for me and gives me beauty. And the sum total of things I have to argue it adds, it does add to my joy of life. I would have to say that. Did it do it for a Nazi? Yes. But I always say the arts do not make your character better, but they can, they can touch you in other ways. Don't go away.

On tomorrow's episode of Dennis Teaches the Torah.

When I taught Genesis 1, I showed The, the, the absolute centrality of the teaching that God is not in nature. God is above nature and controls nature. That, that is the purpose of Genesis 1, arguably the most important chapter in the Torah. But now, that's the most important universal chapter. This is the most important, as it were, chapters specific to the Jews. There are 2 themes in the Torah, the universal and the particular. Universal as God creates the world, in particular as God takes the Jews out of Egypt. But the, but the purpose of the particular is to teach a universal lesson. Again, the greatest theme of the Torah is which will you human beings worship, God or nature? All paganism can be summarized, all polytheism can be summarized As the worship of nature. That is the reason, not because they had 55 or 100 or 10,000 gods, that it's a problem. That's a, that's a little problem, the number issue. The bigger problem by far is the adulation of, of nature. It is happening in our own time, and that's why I said it should shake you up because you would think it'll shake you up for one of two reasons. One, because you would've thought the battle was long ago won, or two, because a little part of you worships nature. And the truth is, it would not be surprising if you are in any way representative of modern uh, educated Americans who are not, uh, particularly involved in, in conscious, organized monotheistic religion is, especially if you're of my generation or younger, that you do have elements of nature worship left.

Join us tomorrow to hear more on Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Visit DennisPrager.com for thousands of of Dennis' lectures, courses, and classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles. We want to take just a second to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. Go to lifeaudio.com to find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network, including shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.

When someone you love is hurting, what do you do? We're often quick to say, if there's anything I can do, just let me know. But what if we stopped waiting to be asked and simply showed up? On the If There Is Anything I Can Do podcast, Pam McConnell shares real stories, biblical wisdom, and practical ways to walk alongside people through grief, loss, and life's hardest moments. Learn how to show up and make a difference. Subscribe now at klovpodcast.com, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.