103
" And so I do. I have inter course, right there in the Hotel van Walsum dining room. I enjoy it very much, this unhurried dining experience. I sip my beer, stare into space, and, in general, do nothing--until the waiter brings the grilled salmon, indicating that, for now, my inter course is over. "
― Eric Weiner , The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
109
" the Bhutanese scholar and cancer survivor. “There is no such thing as personal happiness,” he told me. “Happiness is one hundred percent relational.” At the time, I didn’t take him literally. I thought he was exaggerating to make his point: that our relationships with other people are more important than we think. But now I realize Karma meant exactly what he said. Our happiness is completely and utterly intertwined with other people: family and friends and neighbors and the woman you hardly notice who cleans your office. Happiness is not a noun or verb. It’s a conjunction. Connective tissue. Well, are we there yet? Have I found happiness? I still own an obscene number of bags and am prone to debilitating bouts of hypochondria. But I do experience happy moments. I’m learning, as W. H. Auden counseled, to “dance while you can.” He didn’t say dance well, and for that I am grateful. I’m not 100 percent happy. Closer to feevty-feevty, I’d say. All things considered, that’s not so bad. No, not bad at all. Waterford, Virginia, July 2007 "
― Eric Weiner , The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
110
" Обича начина,по който горещата вода блика от земята подобно на геотермално злато. Обича начина, по който хората те канят на кафе без специален повод и могат да разговарят с теб в продължение на часове за всичко и за нищо специално. Обича начина, по който с любов наричат страната си "Леденото кубче". Обича факта,че без да полага никакви усилия, вече се е запознал с трима депутати от парламента. Обича начина, по който в кристалните зимни дни снегът хруска под краката ти като божествен стиропор. Обича хоровете, които пеят по тротоарите на главната търговска улица през декември, и гласовете им-силни и лъчисти, възпират нощта. Обича начина,по който петгодишните деца спокойно ходят сами на училище в мрака преди зазоряване. Обича вълшебното, неземно чувство, че плува насред снежната буря. Обича това, че когато колата ти затъне в снега, винаги някой ще спре, за да ти помогне. Обича начина,по който исландците ръкопляскат бурно, когато самолетът им каца на международното летище в Кефлавик просто защото са щастливи,че се завръщат у дома. Обича начина, по който исландците съумяват да бъдат изключително горди, но без следа от арогантност. И, да, той обича - не просто понася, - активно обича мрака. "
― Eric Weiner , The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
111
" They are the appreciators of genius, and as art critic Clive Bell said, “The essential characteristic of a highly civilized society is not that it is creative but that it is appreciative.” By that measure, Vienna was the most highly civilized society to grace the planet. Mozart didn’t compose for an audience but for audiences. One audience was the wealthy patrons—nobles, typically, including the emperor himself. Another audience was the city’s finicky music critics. A third was the public at large, middle-class concertgoers or dust-caked street sweepers attending an open-air, and free, performance. Musical Vienna was not a solo performance. It was a symphony, often harmonious, occasionally discordant, never dull. Mozart was no freak of nature. He was part of a milieu, a musical ecosystem so rich and varied it practically "
― Eric Weiner , The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley
