Pursuit of Happiness

[photoman]

Why do you think that amongst the three rights given by the creator as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence are the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Why not life liberty and happiness?

[Enchant]

photoman said:

Why do you think that amongst the three rights given by the creator as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence are the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Why not life liberty and happiness?

Because people are never happy with what they have , they are always searching for something to make them even more happy...and thats not counting the ones who never are..

[myke]

enchant said:

photoman said:

Why do you think that amongst the three rights given by the creator as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence are the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Why not life liberty and happiness?

Because people are never happy with what they have , they are always searching for something to make them even more happy...and thats not counting the ones who never are..

Good answer.

Also, if it was written they had the right to happiness, then some may say they are not happy unless they get several pounds of gold, and if the new United States government did not give them that gold, it would be violation their constitutional rights as an American citizen. So the pursuit of happiness grants those citizens the right to try and earn that gold on their own.

[wildmaven]

[applause!!!] Great answer!!!!

And for some of us, it's not the pursuit of happiness, it's the happiness of pursuit. ;D

Marian

[Zetacon]

I think they say "pursuit of happiness" because happiness can vary from person to person. If they had just said happiness, it probably would have been implied that there is only one form of this happiness that they can acquire. Getting that one form of happiness would be impossible.

[photoman]

I really like the first 2 answers

[richndanapoint]

For me, a simple recipe: for the time being, no matter how long it lasts, freedom from angst. Like this morning, sitting on my back porch, watching a beautiful morning unfold. Just quietly thinking: how beautiful everything is! "Happiness is the greatness in all things, the appreciation of elements, JUST as they are. That's enough for me.

[Renegade]

richndanapoint said:

Just quietly thinking: how beautiful everything is!

...and then the kids wake up

[richndanapoint]

renegade said:

richndanapoint said:

Just quietly thinking: how beautiful everything is!

...and then the kids wake up

Once again there is that evil streak I like so much

[Mia]

zetacon said:

I think they say "pursuit of happiness" because happiness can vary from person to person. If they had just said happiness, it probably would have been implied that there is only one form of this happiness that they can acquire. Getting that one form of happiness would be impossible.

Very true, give a drunk a bottle of whiskey he may be happy give the next person a million gbp/usd he may not be happy, everyone is an individual with their own levels of expectation. Happiness is an emotion, once achieved you still have to work to maintain it.

[Renegade]

richndanapoint said:

Once again there is that evil streak I like so much

Is that what you say when you see Morgan?

[Zephyr]

If it were to say happiness, then anyone who made anyone elese unhappy would be breaking the law, and although we may want that, it's ultimately unworkable and impossible.

[richndanapoint]

renegade said:

richndanapoint said:

Once again there is that evil streak I like so much

Is that what you say when you see Morgan?

He’s growing out of the evilness and turning into quite a fine young man

[Enchant]

renegade said:

richndanapoint said:

Just quietly thinking: how beautiful everything is!

...and then the kids wake up

haha...sometimes there is never a truer statement