im doubt life essentially is a search for happiness, because happiness is subject to so many different things, created wants and needs,
i think knowledge is something onto itself, an understanding of aspects of truth, and the truth is not always what you want to hear, i don't think knowledge is ment to make you happier, it is what it is, how you then act upon a realisation is a different matter.
maybe the acting upon is where the satisfaction comes from or a feeling of happiness.