Time & hindsight

When were you happiest?

585 answers answered between 1930 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

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Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.

Read by field Everyone Science and medicine 4 Arts and letters 494 Politics and public life 38 Business and finance 19 Sport 30
Read by age Any age Before thirty 25 In their thirties 83 In their forties 113 In their fifties 109 In their sixties 100 Seventy and beyond 77
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Winston Churchill Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1940–1945 and 1951–1955; Member of Parliament 1900–1964
But the years 1895 to 1900 which are the staple of this story exceed in vividness, variety and exertion anything I have known—except of course the opening months of the Great War. When I look back upon them I cannot but return my sincere thanks to the high gods for the gift of existence. All the days were good and each day better than the other. Ups and downs, risks and journeys, but always the sense of motion, and the illusion of hope.
Recorded Chapter of his autobiography, written at Chartwell in 1930, Winston S. Churchill, My Early Life (Thornton Butterworth, 1930), Project Gutenberg Canada, October 1930 source ↗
Tina Brown British and American journalist
In my second year at Oxford University. There was much lolling over the side of punts on the river with languid male companions plying me with cheap champagne.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 May 2010 source ↗
Andrew Marr British journalist
I'm happy a lot; the birth of children produced the biggest highs, along with parachuting.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 September 2012 source ↗
Liz Jones British journalist
Married, in my Georgian house, four cats. It lasted a day.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 September 2013 source ↗
Nick Robinson British political journalist
Toasting marshmallows on an open fire in Yosemite national park.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 November 2013 source ↗
Robert Peston British journalist
With my late wife, Siân Busby, and our boys, Max and Simon, on assorted Welsh and English beaches, in sunshine and rain – especially when there was a Punch and Judy show on the prom.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 June 2018 source ↗
Samira Ahmed British journalist and writer
On stage, interviewing one of my heroes, Paul McCartney, at the Royal Festival Hall last November.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 January 2022 source ↗

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