🚀 go-pugleaf

Zorba the Greek wrote:

> Money buys you goods and services.  Those goods and services may bring you
> short-term happiness, I concede.  However, long-term joy is not brought on
> by goods and services.

Exactly. In fact, one might say "The desire for money above all else is probably
not the surest
way to happiness." (oh, wait, I did say that. *smile*)

> Family, friends, a significant other, helping
> others, giving your time, conversation, enjoying your environment, fighting
> for a cause, etc. are all sources of long-term joy.  Source?  The very
> people that participate in these acts.
>
> Desiring money to aide you in these tasks is reasonable.

Right. In fact, one might say "Having money in addition to other things is most
definitely worth desiring." (Oh, wait, I said that too.)

>
> > Caveat emptor. And kudos to the entrepreneur.
>
> Ever wonder why Carnegie decided to give away most all of his capital near
> the end of his life?  Or why Bill Gates plans to give away all but 20mil
> before he passes away (the 20 going to his children, 10mil a piece)?  I'll
> tell you why: because these obscenely rich people realize that having money
> has not made them happy.

Well, despite the nice moral this point makes, I'm tempted to doubt its validity.
Perhaps they gave to worthy causes because giving gifts made them happy. I don't
make any claims about their motives, but I think my idea is at least as plausible
as yours. Were I pretentious and condescending, I might say "You must never have
experienced the joy of making someone happy by giving a thoghtful gift without
expecting something in return. I hope one day you're able to." But fortunately
I'm not.

> When I met Bill this summer, he didn't seem like an overjoyed man.  Sure, he
> didn't seem sad, either.  But it wasn't like he interspersed every few lines
> of conversation with, "Oh man!  Am I happy!  AH!  I love the world!".

Hmm. That's a tough one. You don't suppose that maybe he didn't feel like
expounding to a new acquiantance on all the joys of life, do you? Nahh, probably
not.

> Sure, he had a big house, and nice food, and interesting friends.  But I
> think his wife, or his children, or his plan to vaccinate every child in the
> world bring him more happiness than his money.

Be sure to let me know if anyone disputes that claim.

> When you have a tidy sum, think about Bill or Carnegie.

So... um... how do you think they made that tidy sum? I'm sure Andy didn't do it
by passing up opportunities to make money, no matter how small the sum.

>Wishing you a quick recovery,

Thanks for your concern. :-)

Sarah

--
This glubbick contains many nonsklarkish
English flutzpahs, but the overall pluggandisp
can be glorked from context.