The renowned Italian poet, Torquato Tasso, was once visiting at the court of King Charles IX, and in the course of a conversation one day the monarch raised the following question:

“Who in your opinion is the happiest person alive?”

“God is the happiest of all beings,” was the prompt reply.

“Yes, of course.” said the king.  “But who is the happiest person alive after God?”

The poet thought for a moment;  then he gave this very profound reply:

“I suppose the happiest person after God is the person whom becomes most like God.”

(Source: A Thought a Day, Assembled by a Father of the Society of St. Paul, copyright 1950).