My late father remarked that "money cannot buy you happines but it sure as anything would be darn difficult to create any happiness without any money". Maria
Leo Tolstoy, Death of Ivan Ilych Ivan is on his deathbed, ailing from an incurable illness, thinking about dying and being generally annoyed with death as any man would be, and while hoping that there might be a chance that he will recover he is subconsciously aware that he is going to die. His death, as he sees it, will be an unfortunate event but not altogether terrible; his daughter and son will survive him, and his position is such that they will not be uncared for after he is gone. Suddenly, Ivan reminisces upon his life and comes to the realization that the accumulation of wealth, of a big house, political power, a beautiful wife, are relatively meaningless, and Ivan asks himself "What if my whole life has really been wrong?" What can be more terrible than realizing, just days before your own death, that your whole life was lived backwards? From this cognizance to the minute of his death Ivan endures more pain than any illness could have inflicted on him; it is the pain of knowing the truth, that his life which could have been something of meaning and substance, was nothing, nothing at all, and it is too late to do anything about it.
"..the accumulation of wealth, of a big house, political power, a beautiful wife, are relatively meaningless." Nice quote from a very great author .. but ah .. well .. shouldn't that console the poor, the stupid, the marginal, the mediocre and the unsuccessful .. no? NO.
I have tried poor for 12 years in the military, that wasn't fun. I have tried some wealth and it is a lot more fun. I still have the same wife and family now that I had when I was broke. The only difference is now we enjoy the freedom of being able to buy things when we want to or go places that we want to. If that sounds bad or materialistic then I am ok with that. Just don't make me broke again.
Rod McKuen lives! Or do you write for Hallmark Cards? I'm all for happiness, but pardon moi while I vomit from treacle overload... H
I told my girlfriend if she'd do my laundry this week that afterwards we could snuggle w/some hot warm towels fresh out of the dryer and play with our new puppy while we baked chocolate chip cookes. She didn't go for it and pointed out that it was my time to do the laundry, our apt building doesn't allow pets no matter how adorable, and that chocolate is high in sugar and fat and will kill you. She's such a cynic... H
Money extends freedom and security, but if one doesn't have a family with related responsibilities the amount of money has a little importance for real happyness. We trade for money and for our ego. When we have money ego won't let us be happy, it's difficult to fight one's own ego, that is why we "fight" with market or someone else.