From Dan Galvin's Thought For The Day mailing list:
If one only wished to be happy,
this could be easily accomplished;
but we wish to be happier than other people,
and this is always difficult,
for we believe others to be happier than they are.
-(Charles-Louis Secondat) MONTESQUIEU (1689-17550
Philosopher and jurist
Bits and Pieces January 2008
I remind myself often that I live better than Kings did 500 years ago. Yet it is easy to feel like I don't have enough.
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Technorati tags: happiness
2 comments:
I have the same thoughts about kings. ;>
Rickety jalopies go faster and farther, with more comfort, than whatever kings had going for them way back when. (for an inkling, try the stagecoach at the Old Tucson movie set in Arizona -- the word 'boneshaker' was entirely appropriate)
Ditto home heating. I've been in medieval castles and churches in the winter. Fffffrigid.
Speaking of frigid, we have 'fridges. Can you imagine the logistics involved in keeping food fresh back then?
I get to wear Polarfleece instead of homespun wool. And the soles of my shoes are soft and spongey instead of either so thin there is no support, or so heavy and clunky that it's hard to walk.
Yeah, it's good to not be a king 500 years ago.
There are people in our country with serious problems; however, I think a lot people complain who aren't really suffering.
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