(no subject)

[balmofgilead]

For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more. And this is said in disparagement, whereas it is one of the greatest talents the species has and one that has made it superior to animals that are satisfied with what they have.

--John Steinbeck, The Pearl

I'm not sure where I stand on this. It's true that it forces people to. . . do stuff and keep doing stuff, but it also makes happiness into a dangling carrot. Maybe it's not that way for everyone who wants and wants. I guess it depends on what it is you want and how you propose to get it.

Comments

[lucystrawberry.livejournal.com]

wOW. thank you for posting this and making my brain do actual thinking beyond work.

[rippetoe.livejournal.com]

I think the good medium is to find joy in the process of discovery and doing stuff itself, rather than the end-goal. That way one keeps striving, but one is also content. Happiness comes from living and continuing to live--which to me implies always learning and growing and striving for change, but not hating yourself when it doesn't happen or being so content that you never do anything.