
“Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy.”
The Complete Neurotic's Notebook (1981), Unclassified
“Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy.”
Book 1, Chapter 3 “Peculiar Geography of an Unknown Realm” (p. 167)
The Elric Cycle, The Revenge of the Rose (1991)
“I would rather have someone read my diary than look at my iPod playlists.”
Source: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
The Tragic Sense of Life (1913), IV : The Essence of Catholicism
Context: The most authentic Catholic ethic, monastic asceticism, is an ethic of eschatology, directed to the salvation of the individual soul rather than to the maintenance of society. And in the cult of virginity may there not perhaps be a certain obscure idea that to perpetuate ourselves in others hinders our own personal perpetuation?
“Most people would rather be sheep than stand on their own with antlers on.”
“The best of us would rather be popular than right.”
No. 44, the Mysterious Stranger (unpublished manuscript written 1902–1908)
As quoted in Asadollah Alam (1991), The Shah and I: The Confidential Diary of Iran's Royal Court, 1968-77, page 281
Attributed
Letter to his Niece (15 September 1842)