Wish for Happiness

Marilyn is Wrong Copyright © 2001-2004 Herb Weiner. All rights reserved.

Ask Marilyn ® by Marilyn vos Savant is a column in Parade Magazine, published by PARADE, 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA. According to Parade, Marilyn vos Savant is listed in the "Guinness Book of World Records Hall of Fame" for "Highest IQ."

In her Parade Magazine column of November 28, 2004, Marilyn claims that a wish (from a genie) for happiness could not backfire (turn out other than as expected). In other words, she believes that a wish for happiness could not possibly go wrong.

Sorry Marilyn

Sorry, Marilyn, but happiness, like wealth, is not permanent. One must continue to work to achieve happiness. In fact, without periods of sadness, most of us would not even recognize happiness.

I suspect that your wish could go terribly wrong if the genie grants you a drug induced happiness, or perhaps even a frontal lobotomy. This temporary happiness might be followed by a lifetime of regret.


http://www.wiskit.com/marilyn/happiness.html last updated November 29, 2004 by herbw@wiskit.com