<p>Many societies believe that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human right. But it is also true that attainment of happiness remains elusive. Perhaps Bertrand Russell had it right when he said, To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.</p>
<p>Assignment: What gives us more pleasure and satisfaction: the pursuit of our desires or the attainment of them? Plan your response, and then write an essay...</p>
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<pre><code>The pursuit of happiness remains an important, if not central, part of everyones life, even on a sub-conscious level. We seek wealth and other forms of achievement to derive satisfaction in life, yet it is easy to get caught up in this cycle and remain forever discontented with ones situation, unable to recognize that which we already have. Many famous examples exist of people who sought out wealth at all costs, reaching for new extremes of greed and deception to achieve this goal, showing that this obsession with finding happiness can in fact destroy us. Bernie Madoff and Jordan Belfort are perfect examples of this, never truly satisfied despite their incredible riches, leading them to even more morally depraved methods of increasing their wealth. Many lottery winners also fall victim to this kind of discontentment; Overjoyed with their winnings at first, they are soon bombarded with requests for money, and can even fall victim to bitter disputes with their loved ones.
Ponzi schemes led by Bernie Madoff in the early 21st century and Jordan Belfort in the 1980s show how people who pursue happiness in a depraved way, taking advantage of people less informed and financially sound, often never quite achieve the satisfaction they yearn. All the money in the world didnt bring any sense of peace or contentment for these men, and their wealth even encouraged bad behavior, as with Jordan Belfort, who used his incredible wealth to lead a disgusting lifestyle fueled by expensive drugs and prostitution. They both achieved that American dream of acquiring enough wealth to own a home and live comfortably, or in their case, quite extravagantly, yet as demonstrated by Madoffs family problems, including his sons suicide, and Belforts drug abuse, neither actually experienced happiness.
Lottery winners may feel all their problems are solved upon winning money; They can finally retire, fix their cars, pay off their debt, perhaps even send their children to private school or take fancy vacations. For many, though, their winnings become more of a burden. As their name becomes public, they become subject to complete strangers pleas for money, and may become embroiled in family disputes over funds, which have even turned violent in some well-publicized cases.
The achievement of happiness is often connected to financial success in the United States, as people believe money can buy them pleasure and security in life. For many, the grass is always greener on the other side; The poor yearn for money, yet the wealthy dont necessarily achieve happiness with their riches. The pursuit of happiness is certainly a double-edged sword.
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