our wretchedness consists in the disproportion between our desires and our powers


Every feeling of hardship is inseparable from the desire to escape from it; every idea of pleasure from the desire to enjoy it. All desire implies a want, and all wants are painful; hence our wretchedness consists in the disproportion between our desires and our powers. A conscious being whose powers were equal to his desires would be perfectly happy.

Emile——Jean-Jacques Rousseau

I used to think it was said by 王小波
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