He was seen as a old-school oil man, happier having a beer with rig workers than, like Lord Browne, drinking fine wine with prime ministers and presidents.

BBC: BP chief executive Tony Hayward

Richard Riordan is probably the most bookish mayor in the country, a man who seems much happier talking about Evelyn Waugh and P.

ECONOMIST: Life in Los Angeles

No man has had a happier life than I have led.

CNN: What we in 2012 can learn from Teddy Roosevelt in 1912

Without doubt, Mr Gore would have been happier to tread in the wake of a man of exemplary behaviour.

ECONOMIST: Campaigning in Clinton country

You will be a better man and live longer, and make others happier thus, whether the Kodak fiend snaps you or passes you by.

FORBES: The Technologies Are New; The Privacy Fears Aren't

He said that man would not only be richer under conservative principles, but happier, more moral and prouder of himself.

FORBES: Ben Stein On Bill Buckley

"Our study suggests that women who take a man's wealth into consideration when dating are likely to be happier down the line, " explains Wilcox.

FORBES: Magazine Article

What makes her happier is when she gets an e-mail from a racing fan like the man who wrote her to tell her about the gift her bought his wife.

CNN: She's racing to save the environment

Then again, it could well be that the new technologies render us more autistic: less inclined and able to communicate, and therefore happier in front of a screen rather than talking to, let alone loving, our fellow man.

BBC: NEWS | Programmes | If | The future's bright, if you're female...