“Most men spend the best part of their lives in making the rest miserable.”Jean de La Bruyère · Caracterele · 1688 · Despre om, 99
People waste their youth postponing happiness, but this makes their old age sad.
La Bruyère observes a tragic irony: in the pursuit of money, status, or fleeting pleasures, people sacrifice what could bring lasting happiness. They work excessively in youth to secure comfort in old age, only to end up exhausted and alone. A classic example is someone who spends decades building a career while neglecting family and health, only to find that success does not compensate for the losses.
Why it matters It reminds us to constantly evaluate whether what we do now contributes to a fulfilling life, not just a comfortable one later.