Happiness is often presented as being very dull but, he thought, lying awake, that is because dull people are sometimes very happy and intelligent people can and do go around making themselves and everyone else miserable.

Summary

This quote challenges the common notion that happiness is associated with dullness. The speaker reflects on the observation that some dull individuals appear content in their lives, implying that intelligence does not guarantee happiness. In contrast, intelligent people have the ability to become unhappy themselves and even spread misery to others. It suggests that happiness is not solely dependent on intelligence or a lack thereof, but rather a complex combination of factors that differ from person to person.

Topics