The great source of both the misery and disorders of human life, seems to arise from over-rating the difference between one permanent situation and another. Avarice over-rates the difference between poverty and riches: ambition, that between a private and a public station: vain-glory, that between obscurity and extensive reputation. The person under the influence of any of those extravagant passions, is not only miserable in his actual situation, but is often disposed to disturb the peace of society, in order to arrive at that which he so foolishly admires. The slightest observation, however, might satisfy him, that, in all the ordinary situations of human life, a well-disposed mind may be equally calm, equally cheerful, and equally contented. Some of those situations may, no doubt, deserve to be preferred to others: but none of them can deserve to be pursued with that passionate ardour which drives us to violate the rules either of prudence or of justice; or to corrupt the future tranquillity of our minds, either by shame from the remembrance of our own folly, or by remorse from the horror of our own injustice.
In my opinion being hayppy is relative. Can you be happy when you life of 1€ per week? Yes. Can you be unhappy when you are millionaire? Yes.
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I think that beeing happy is something happening inside your head, and basicly can be boilt down to the old saying: "is the glass half full or half empty?".....
Interesting read. However, it makes me also wonder if happiness can be quantified and scientifically analyzed. Scientists have tried to understand love, dating coming up with concepts like pheromones, face similarity and many other interesting topics but when it comes to dating or happiness, I think though hormone levels may indicate the level, the mind, its complexity and mind body connection are still far far away from science understanding .... and truthfully, I like it that way.
hacking and gonzo since 2000
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