Would you rather be happy or wise?

[TheLionQueen]

I'd rather be wise. Just helping people and getting into their mind and helping them with make me the happiest young women on earth. I love to help people.

[Azdgari]

Since then I've come to realize that it's all about finding a balance between those two extremes, but I still think it's an interesting question if you were forced to choose. ;3

Course, humans are selfish like that and can not choose between one thing or another when it comes to self gain.
So in a world where Az forces me to choose, I choose wisdom... With that wisdom come the knowledge of how to truly be happy. And I am not trolling when I say that, because what is happiness? No one really knows, it is an emotion and despite all our researches in the human mind, we still do not know what emotions truly are, or what they mean. But I do know I feel happier when I make a good decision, so being wise would probably be a key to achieving happiness any way.

I think the problem you found where we are trying to "find a balance between the two" is there because one can not exist without the other.

If everybody you know is secretly just being kind to you because you're a freak and they pity you, would you rather know the truth or remain blissfully ignorant?

[FlipMode]

Rather know the truth personally, but I would be happier knowing that. Never really have cared much for what other people think about me any way. The term "blissful ignorance" has never made much sense to me, to be honest with you. How can you "blissfully" ignore the fact that no one likes you?
And even then the choice to ignore what other people think about you and be happy any way, could itself be considered a wise one when you think about it, so I still stand by what I said for now.

[SophieCub]

I'm neither happy or wise, but I'd rather be happy. Cause you don't want to be miserable all your life, cause thats not a life worth living.

[NalaKiaraTani]

wisdom

Proverbs 14:6

King James Version (KJV)


A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

In other words you can be happier than you can shake a stick at, but it takes real talent to maintain wisdom.

???

http://scripturetext.com/ecclesiastes/1-18.htm

Ecclesiastes 1:18

King James Bible
"For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."

Good point you make. But here this verse could be talking about wisdom of worldly things. The Bible never contradicts itself. There's Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom. Not all worldly wisdom is bad but at the smae time too much knowlege of the bad side of it CAN and WILL make you miserable. Any how I just know I'd rather be wise. You won't be happy for long if you aren't smart enough to know what your happiness can get you into. Drugged people are really happy while they're high. But they aren't smart enough to think about the effects of the drugs they take and how addiction is almost near impossible to overcome.

[TheBlackCatCrossing]

Miserable but wise, then I at least have the power to be happy.

[Carl]

I'm not the wisest of people by far, but I'd give up all of my wisdom if I could be happy. Sounds selfish, is selfish, but I'm sick and tired of being miserable. I've been miserable all my life, and even my happiness is often tainted with an underlying misery; I'd rather be a complete nitwit and get on everyone's nerves with my stupidity than continue to live in misery. However, I am a reasonably intelligent person, and therefore, I will pretty much always be miserable on some level. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong, and maybe I'll change my mind later, but right now I just want happiness. Wouldn't matter to me if I had to be more ignorant than I already am to get it.

[Regulus]

I'm pretty sure it's a myth: intelligence doesn't actually equate to unhappiness.

Intelligence can cause depression, in some cases. Whereas someone who doesn't believe they possess intelligence is likely to see a problem and ignore it because there's someone else better suited for the job (hakuna matata), typically, wise people see problems and make it their duty to fix the issues themselves. Expecting too much from yourself will easily push you into the depths of insanity. I've been there before.

Introversion, along with increased sensitivity, are traits shown to have some correlation with intelligence; both of which can lead to unhappiness under certain conditions. The modern American society, in general, isn't very accepting of those who aren't outgoing.

Then, there's always people who are offended by the fact that some people are smart just by nature. Inevitably, if you're smarter than a lot of people, you're going to end up bothering some, just for that very reason. Struggling to deal with this can definitely cause stress, and even worse in severe cases.

But, intelligence, by itself, is by no means exclusive from happiness. It just makes happiness more difficult to achieve, because there's more concerns that most people don't typically deal with.

[Carl]

I'm pretty sure it's a myth: intelligence doesn't actually equate to unhappiness.

Intelligence can cause depression, in some cases. Whereas someone who doesn't believe they possess intelligence is likely to see a problem and ignore it because there's someone else better suited for the job (hakuna matata), typically, wise people see problems and make it their duty to fix the issues themselves. Expecting too much from yourself will easily push you into the depths of insanity. I've been there before.

Introversion, along with increased sensitivity, are traits shown to have some correlation with intelligence; both of which can lead to unhappiness under certain conditions. The modern American society, in general, isn't very accepting of those who aren't outgoing.

Then, there's always people who are offended by the fact that some people are smart just by nature. Inevitably, if you're smarter than a lot of people, you're going to end up bothering some, just for that very reason. Struggling to deal with this can definitely cause stress, and even worse in severe cases.

But, intelligence, by itself, is by no means exclusive from happiness. It just makes happiness more difficult to achieve, because there's more concerns that most people don't typically deal with.

True, very true. I fancy myself intelligent and I've had some times when I was quite happy and rather blissful. It is possible to achieve both, and it is very difficult; at least it is for me. However, intelligence and wisdom aren't the same thing. One can be intelligent and ignorant at the same time; I pull it off rather frequently. I still would rather be happy than wise. IMO, I'm already unwise, though intelligent, so I'd be like I am now, only happier.

[Regulus]

Wisdom is something entirely different from both knowledge and intelligence, but nobody has answered the question using the term 'wisdom' correctly.

It is also important to note that not all ignorance is blissful, and not all truths are depressing.