Who said “There is something ridiculous and even quite indecent in an individual claiming to be…”?

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Malcolm Muggeridge. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceOn BBC's Woman's Hour (5 October 1965)

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“There is something ridiculous and even quite indecent in an individual claiming to be happy. Still more a people or a nation making such a claim. The pursuit of happiness... is without any question the most fatuous which could possibly be undertaken. This lamentable phrase ''the pursuit of happiness'' is responsible for a good part of the ills and miseries of the modern world.”
— Malcolm Muggeridge
VerifiedOn BBC's Woman's Hour (5 October 1965) · evidenceHappiness

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: On BBC's Woman's Hour (5 October 1965).

APA

Muggeridge, M. (n.d.). There is something ridiculous and even quite indecent in an individual claiming to be happy. Still more a people or a nation making such a claim. The pursuit of happiness... is without any question the most fatuous which could possibly be undertaken. This lamentable phrase ''the pursuit of happiness'' is responsible for a good part of the ills and miseries of the modern world. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/21050-there-is-something-ridiculous-and-even-quite-indecent/

MLA

Muggeridge, Malcolm. “There is something ridiculous and even quite indecent in an individual claiming to be happy. Still more a people or a nation making such a claim. The pursuit of happiness... is without any question the most fatuous which could possibly be undertaken. This lamentable phrase ''the pursuit of happiness'' is responsible for a good part of the ills and miseries of the modern world.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/21050-there-is-something-ridiculous-and-even-quite-indecent/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Muggeridge, Malcolm. “There is something ridiculous and even quite indecent in an individual claiming to be happy. Still more a people or a nation making such a claim. The pursuit of happiness... is without any question the most fatuous which could possibly be undertaken. This lamentable phrase ''the pursuit of happiness'' is responsible for a good part of the ills and miseries of the modern world.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/21050-there-is-something-ridiculous-and-even-quite-indecent/.

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