“For in much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.”
Ecclesiastes 1:18 NRSV
Why aren't smart people happier?
21–30 of 515 posts
Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#22Being smart isn't enough, you have to be wise. Intelligence can help you climb to the highest positions in business and academia, wisdom allows you to understand that it isn't really worth it.
Yes and even more because "intelligence" alone doesn't even help you climb to the highest positions.
People, especially on forums like HN, tend to mistake being 'intellectual' to actually 'intelligent'. There are various ways of being "smart" and being good at math and code is only one of them (Emotional intelligence, relationship intelligence, intelligence in career) etc...
People who say 'Iam so smart' are usually not so intelligent in the end
Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#23People, especially on forums like HN, tend to mistake being 'intellectual' to actually 'intelligent'. There are various ways of being "smart" and being good at math and code is only one of them (Emotional intelligence, relationship intelligence, intelligence in career) etc...
It's generally a mix of them who lead to happiness, if that even exists
Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#24I think the answer is that intelligent people tend to suffer from depression more than “simpler” people. Insecure over-achievers, “introverts”, and the like.
the intelligence of someone is foolishness in other eyes. Simpler people, as you call them, have often solutions for problems with which well educated people struggle with.
So not looking down on someone is a good beginning for be more happy. :)
Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#25I think the answer is that intelligent people tend to suffer from depression more than “simpler” people. Insecure over-achievers, “introverts”, and the like.
Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#26Ignorance is a bliss. We as society shouldn't focus so much on being „happy“. Happiness by itself is not worthwhile. What are you going to tell on your deathbed and how will your relatives remember you? Oh, he never did anything, but he seemed happy all the time!
Sounds pretty good to be honest.
Maybe good for individual, but sucks big time for the people around. Especially if there're substances involved.
Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#27Ignorance is a bliss. We as society shouldn't focus so much on being „happy“. Happiness by itself is not worthwhile. What are you going to tell on your deathbed and how will your relatives remember you? Oh, he never did anything, but he seemed happy all the time!
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Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#28> The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
- Ecclesiastes, somewhere between 450-180 BCE.
Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#29Being smart isn't enough, you have to be wise. Intelligence can help you climb to the highest positions in business and academia, wisdom allows you to understand that it isn't really worth it.
I don't know if wisdom really helps. Or, maybe I just feel that way, because I lack it. How would wisdom help with happiness, when you see a likely worsening climate, rampant inequality for really no good reason, which together with the former is bound to cause significant sivil unrest and wars in the coming decades? In my limited version of it, is to strive to be humble, and the happiness for those around you. Find…
Wisdom, I think, wants us to focus on our abilities and what we can do.
Things that are outside our control will always make us unhappy.
So if we do our part I think we eventually find happiness in whatever change we were able to bring in this world. And when enough people do that we fix all the problems mentioned at beginning of your comment.
> You want to change world? Go home and love your family. - Mother Teresa
Re: Why aren't smart people happier?
#30Because ignorance is bliss, and knowledge is pain.