It is often said that we fail to attain pleasures if we deliberately seek them. This has been described variously, by many:

    Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning:

    Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself …

— Wikipedia on Paradox of hedonism

The paradox of happiness: 

If you do good work, you will feel happy.

However, if you do good work only because of the desire of getting happiness, you will not get it.

[selfless]

happiness ~ progress ~ self transcendence

do good work ~ keep going to the next levels

[selfish]

seeking happiness directly ~ focus on oneself ~ trapped at the same level

no progress ~ unhappiness

— Me@2011.06.22

快樂

~ 快

快樂源於進步快。

— Me@2014.06.13

2014.06.13 Friday (c) All rights reserved by ACHK