Happy people are ignoramuses and glory is nothing else but success, and to achieve it one only has to be cunning

Happy people are ignoramuses and glory is nothing else but success, and to achieve it one only has to be cunning

Mikhail Lermontov, a Russian writer and poet known for his cynical and pessimistic views on life, would likely have a lot to say about the idea that happy people are ignoramuses and that success is achieved through cunning. Lermontov's works often explore themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the darker aspects of human nature, making him a fitting voice to comment on such a statement.

In Lermontov's eyes, happiness may indeed be seen as a form of ignorance. He believed that true happiness was unattainable in a world filled with suffering, injustice, and moral decay. To him, those who were truly happy were either blind to the harsh realities of life or simply chose to ignore them. In this sense, happy people could be seen as ignoramuses, living in a state of blissful ignorance while the world around them crumbled.

As for the idea that success is achieved through cunning, Lermontov would likely have a cynical view on this as well. In his works, he often portrayed ambitious and cunning characters who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals, even if it meant sacrificing their morals and integrity. Lermontov believed that true success could only be achieved through manipulation, deceit, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get ahead.

However, Lermontov also understood that this kind of success was ultimately hollow and meaningless. In his most famous work, "A Hero of Our Time," the protagonist Pechorin is a prime example of a cunning and ambitious individual who achieves success at the expense of others, only to find himself empty and unfulfilled in the end.