Ask him why there are hypocrites in the world.' 'Because it is hard to bear the happiness of others.' 'When are we happy?' 'When we desire nothing and realize that possession is only momentary, and so are forever playing.' 'What is regret?' 'To realize that one has spent one's life worrying about the future.' 'What is sorrow?' 'To long for the past.' 'What is the highest pleasure?' 'To hear a good story.
Interpretation
Happiness is temporary and often hindered by our desires and regrets about the past or future.
This quote suggests that true happiness comes from living in the moment and understanding that our desires for possessions and our regrets about the past can lead to unhappiness. It reflects on the nature of happiness, sorrow, and regret, indicating that while we often struggle with desires and worries, the simplest pleasure can come from enjoying a good story and being present.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming negativity and embracing the moment, this quote can illustrate the importance of focus on the present.
Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign. We maintain therefore that in matters of Religion, no man's right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and that Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance.
There's man all over for you, blaming on his boots the fault of his feet.
In Sri Lanka a well-told lie is worth a thousand facts.
If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death.
Can it be of less consequence that the meaning of a Constitution should be fixed and known, than a meaning of a law should be so?
It is often argued that religion is valuable because it makes men good, but even if this were true it would not be a proof that religion is true. That would be an extension of pragmatism beyond endurance. Santa Claus makes children good in precisely the same way, and yet no one would argue seriously that the fact proves his existence. The defense of religion is full of such logical imbecilities.
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