Happiness vs Dignity

I would always rather be happy than dignified.
–Charlotte Bronte

That quote resonates with me, but I suppose happiness and dignity aren’t incompatible. What do you think?

On the other hand, the quote reminds me of this cartoon:

It would be a lot more fun to be with the the pup than with the saints.


 

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6 Responses to Happiness vs Dignity

  1. Rummuser says:

    No, they are not mutually incompatible. I think that Bronte meant dignified in a disparaging way rather than the way it is normally understood.

    • Jean says:

      There are a lot of different connotations to the words. To some people it connotes stuffiness and pomposity. Others have a more positive reaction to the term.

  2. tammy j says:

    I still love that cartoon! LOLOL GO PUPPY!
    I don’t have the same feeling about the bronte sisters that I used to.
    I read that they were very catty and disparaging to jane austen…
    belittling her work and making fun of her.
    they might have just been happily having “fun” but at another’s expense it’s not admirable.
    of course they ALL lived in an age when decorum and dignity were so highly over rated I can see why the quote!

    • Jean says:

      I’ve read that Jane Austen also wrote witty but disparaging things about other people. It must have been a depressing time to be a woman.

  3. Cindi says:

    First, sorry I’ve gotten so far behind in my blog reading.
    I think I’m now caught up with my reading and commenting.
    (My excuse is a pain that I’m dealing with that I thought was shingles but now… I don’t know what it is but I’m really tired of it so I’ve just been trying to sleep.)

    The Bronte sisters were mean girls? and possibly Jane Austin too?
    Jeez, some things never change.

    I’m more focused on the word “happy”.
    If she had said fun instead, I might hesitate with an answer but
    happy?
    yeah, Happy is most important.

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