life liberty happiness
Declaration's promised trio
Life, liberty, and happiness—or more precisely, the pursuit of happiness—form the famous triad of inalienable rights in the American Declaration of Independence.
The phrase has become shorthand for fundamental human aspirations: They came to America seeking life, liberty, and happiness.
Life means existence itself, liberty means freedom from constraint, and the pursuit of happiness means the right to seek fulfillment on one's own terms.
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- pursuitAct of chasing something
- independenceFreedom from external control
- joyIntense positive emotion
- existenceState of being real
natural rights · rights · inalienable rights · constitution · bill of rights · dream · founding fathers · all men are created equal · fulfillment · breath · soul · journey · vitality · flourishing · prosperity · contentment · land of the free · birthright
life liberty happinesstyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
oppression · bondage · captivity · subjugation · suffering
life liberty happinesstotalitarianism
State controls everything absolutely
tyranny · oppression · despotism · authoritarianism · dictatorship
life liberty happinessliving death
Unbearable prolonged suffering
grinding poverty · hopelessness · wretchedness · desolation · torment
life, liberty, happiness, live, lives, lived, living, lively, livelihood