"Je préférerais toujours être heureux qu'être digne"
— Anne Bronte
Simplified Meaning:
Choosing happiness over dignity means prioritizing your joy and well-being over maintaining a certain image or pride. Imagine you are at a party and everyone is dancing and having fun, but you feel embarrassed to join in because you think you might look silly. If you choose happiness, you would let go of that fear, join the dance, and enjoy the moment, even if you don't look perfect. In history, many people who chose to follow their passions and happiness often faced criticism or judgment, but they ended up living fulfilling and joyful lives. For example, someone might leave a high-paying job that makes them miserable to pursue a career in something they love, like art or teaching. Even if others think this choice is foolish, the person feels much happier and more satisfied. This idea teaches us that it's more important to feel happy than to worry too much about what others think of us. By focusing on what brings us joy, we live more authentic and fulfilling lives. Applying this to your own life, you might decide to embrace activities or decisions that make you happy, even if they don't always seem dignified or impressive to others.