This
essay was written by Tran,
van Dien
in 1960.
Introduction:
People often says that with money they can get
everything. In this modern society where matter prevails upon spirit, money is
so highly esteemed that is considered as the only factor of happiness. Does
money really make man happy?
Body
of the essay:
To give a definite answer, we should distinguish two
different conceptions of happiness.
1. Money can
create happiness: To some people, happiness consists mainly in material
things. Happiness here means the satisfaction of mean desires and low passions.
Happiness is nothing but the satisfaction of physical needs, the abundance of
earthly pleasures and distractions. To such kind of people, money is the only
means of getting happiness.
2.-Money
cannot create happiness: But to others, happiness has a nobler significance
because it consists mainly in spiritual things: the peace of mind, the sincere
love between two hearts and the sincere understanding between souls. Money is
only a material thing, so it cannot create real happiness.
3.- The middle
way: Money cannot create happiness but it contributes to the acquirement of
happiness. In other words, not all those who have money, are happy because
unhappy people can be found living in abundance and luxury. On the contrary,
some poor people may live very happy. Instead of bringing happiness, money may
cause misunderstandings, discords, quarrels, adultery which ruin happiness. The
same is to be said of poverty which is the cause of all evils.
Conclusion:
To sum up, happiness does not depend on the quantity
of money but depends on the way how we spend it. Like science, money is edged
tool, which only does good to those who know how to use it.
