Context

This line is spoken by Bernard Marx in the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932).

Bernard Marx is basically the Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, of the Alpha-Pluses, which is the highest social caste in the futuristic, class-obsessed society of Brave New World. He just doesn't quite fit in. Even though he is treated to drugs and sex whenever he wants, Bernard isn't happy. He just wants to be his short, resentful self instead of a happy, mindless citizen of the World State.

And this is why Bernard doesn't take soma, the most popular drug of the World State, when he sleeps with his love, Lenina, for the first time. He wants to enjoy her company without any chemical enhancements, and they end up running off to the Reservation together, far away from the Alphas. Like the Schuyler sisters, they just want to slum it up. (Unfortunately, they can't rap though.)

But Bernard and Lenina don't end up living happily ever after because this is a dystopian novel, and that would be way too easy.

Where you've heard it

Brave New World is another literature class staple, and you may have used a variation of this quote when you're tired of plastering on a smile for annoying customers in a retail job. Being happy all the time is exhausting.

Additional Notable References:

• If you really like this quote, you can make it your desktop background, complete with dreary mountains.
• Also, check out this nice, pop art-infused cover for Brave New World, featuring way too much soma.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

It's always good to be yourself, even if you have to quote an old novel to back up your point.