17 Comments
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Joseph S. Furey's avatar

Excellent. A happy comparison.

Happiness begins where comparison loses its jurisdiction.

Alexander Fayne's avatar

Thank you for sauing so!

Your aphorism is beautifully put and probably true and sometimes very, very difficult to remember in the midst of life...

Simon Randall's avatar

Superb as always.

Michael Preedy's avatar

I thought of Ian McEwan who wrote that happiness is a hard nut to crack while misery is more amenable to analysis.

Alexander Fayne's avatar

Interesting. Happiness is a continual mystery, like love. Some people end up saying at times that neither exist, and yet...

Michael Preedy's avatar

… we write on.

ginger buswell's avatar

Joy is the most difficult emotion to feel.

Alexander Fayne's avatar

I think that's true. And contrary to the impression I may be giving, I do feel it very strongly sometimes

ginger buswell's avatar

I do get that impression, from the wry humor I always find in your writing!

Alexander Fayne's avatar

Humour's always been the saving grace...

Dean Kiley's avatar

Oooh, the cheese one. It clunks shut with unbeatable logic on unsuspecting palates.

Alexander Fayne's avatar

I'm glad you liked it - if you liked it (I suppose I could take that as a yelp of pain, as well...)

William  Marsh's avatar

"All unhappiness is alike: every happiness is happy in its own way. There are any number of lies, after all, but only one truth."

Personal pessimism doesn't go deeper than this! These are clever and entertaining, but if I read them and take them as more than provocative, the darkness looks pretty thick!

Do you know this crack from The Way of All Flesh: "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all."?

Thanks for these!

Alexander Fayne's avatar

I do know that, and I like it... The darkness is thick, sometimes - laughter is the best response I've got, currently. Thank you very much for reading!

Peter Whisenant's avatar

Again, you’ve given me an aphorgasm. Now I need a cigarette . . .

Alexander Fayne's avatar

In that case, my apologies...