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Single Idea 2891

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / c. Value of happiness ]

Full Idea

Man does not strive after happiness; only the Englishman does that.

Gist of Idea

Only the English actually strive after happiness

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Twilight of the Idols [1889], Maxim 12)

Book Ref

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Twilight of the Idols and The Anti-Christ', ed/tr. Hollingdale,R.J. [Penguin 1972], p.23


A Reaction

The Danes keeping being voted the happiest nation, so presumably that results from some sort of effort on their part. The easiest is happiness is to achieve security, then do nothing.


The 14 ideas with the same theme [how important is happiness?]:

Aristotle is unsure about eudaimonia because he is unsure what people are [Nagel on Aristotle]
Goods like pleasure are chosen partly for happiness, but happiness is chosen just for itself [Aristotle]
Happiness is perfect and self-sufficient, the end of all action [Aristotle]
What happens to me if I obtain all my desires, and what if I fail? [Epicurus]
Everyone wants happiness [Augustine]
Life has no end (not even happiness), because we have desires, which presuppose a further end [Hobbes]
A concern for happiness is the inevitable result of consciousness [Locke]
Morality is not about making ourselves happy, but about being worthy of happiness [Kant]
Duty does not aim at an end, but gives rise to universal happiness as aim of the will [Kant]
Only the English actually strive after happiness [Nietzsche]
It is a sign of degeneration when eudaimonistic values begin to prevail [Nietzsche]
We have no more right to 'happiness' than worms [Nietzsche]
I want my work, not happiness! [Nietzsche]
Good versus evil has been banefully reduced to happiness versus misfortune [Baudrillard]