What do you value more than happiness?

[Pharaoh Cat]

A recent discussion has caused me to get very clear about one aspect of my value system; namely, that I value intellectual integrity more than happiness.  I would not surrender my intellectual integrity, even under threat of lifelong sadness and frustration.  Conversely, I would surrender my current happiness if I discovered it was incompatible with intellectual integrity.

What (if anything) do you value more than happiness?

[Davin]

Happiness to me finds its way through so long as I'm not bent on preventing it. I can be happy in spite of most things (then again, my life's not so bad). I would never value happiness over knowledge though.

[xSilverPhinx]

Right now, bringing criminals to justice

(sounds ambitious, I know.)

[Ecurb Noselrub]

That my grandchildren get a decent education and have opportunities for success in life.

[Stevil]

Freedom.

[Asmodean]

There are many things I value more than happiness. I am adept at being miserable and content, so to speak, so happiness is a bonus, really.

Examples..? My friends, intelligence, reliability, integrity... The list is not exactly short.

[The Magic Pudding]

I like happiness, I appreciate melancholy as well.
If you can manage a mix of these things it's probably a richer life.
Sad songs are often the most beautiful.

[Sandra Craft]

What (if anything) do you value more than happiness?

A religious friend of mine once expected to win a point with me by asking if I'd rather the right or happy.  She did expect it when I told her that was a ridiculous question, but she didn't expect it when I continued "of course I'd rather be right!"  A lot of things make me happy, and the rare occasions on which I'm right about something is one of them.  It's a win/win situation.

Right now, bringing criminals to justice

(sounds ambitious, I know.)

Why am I seeing a cape involved in this?

[xSilverPhinx]

Right now, bringing criminals to justice

(sounds ambitious, I know.)

Why am I seeing a cape involved in this?

LOL

Marvel at the cape you're seeing

A religious friend of mine once expected to win a point with me by asking if I'd rather the right or happy.  She did expect it when I told her that was a ridiculous question, but she didn't expect it when I continued "of course I'd rather be right!"  A lot of things make me happy, and the rare occasions on which I'm right about something is one of them.  It's a win/win situation.

I never really understood why people would prefer a delusion over the truth, if they were able to know the truth. Would beliefs based on fact be more valuable than anything made up and kept just because they make you happy? ???

[Sandra Craft]

I never really understood why people would prefer a delusion over the truth, if they were able to know the truth. Would beliefs based on fact be more valuable than anything made up and kept just because they make you happy? ???

My guess is it depends on how comforting the fantasy is.  I've heard a number of people say that facts aren't enough, or they're "too cold".  Altho I don't agree, I do get that point of view since I find supernaturalism not enough, and the common god-as-ultimate-helicopter-parent revoltingly creepy -- what we value and why is very subjective territory.

[OldGit]

As Bruce said, my children and grandchildren.

[squidfetish]

My health has got to be up there close to the top. Without that I'd be a miserable bastard.

[OldGit]

I'm a a miserable bastard anyway. 

[Pharaoh Cat]

Right now, bringing criminals to justice

(sounds ambitious, I know.)

Sounds cool, frankly.  My younger daughter is majoring in criminal justice.

[Pharaoh Cat]

My health has got to be up there close to the top. Without that I'd be a miserable bastard.

Yes, but if you had to choose between health and happiness - if you couldn't have both - which would you choose?