[sesteel]

This deserves to be upvoted more. Trading your life for financial gain has diminishing returns. You'd think everybody's goal would to be free of servitude.

[justnotworthit]

Most people's goal is security, I wager. But here's a quote you might like:

“Self-sufficiency is the greatest wealth of all, and the greatest fruit of self-sufficiency is freedom.” – Epicurus

[hipjiveguy]

Nice quote, thanks for posting.... but, did Epicurus have a family, or care about anyone else? Makes me wonder...

Anyone can pursue their passions, and realize their dreams, but you have to at least consider the affect on your wife or children.

Now this is not saying don't get married, lol.

It's just about choices. Realize that all we think and do, is so subjective.

You could be the smartest guy in the world, or the most caring guy in the world.

Which would you say matters more?

Intellect fades. Youth fades. Life gives way to death.

These are not bad things, but they are natural, as we come to understand.

But in all of this, you have to be you, and not your parents.

Never forget, your parents were children, and probably are in some ways, as the are with you, for your entire life.

Forgive them, and yourself, but never forget, you can always love and help others.

If this life had no point, and was "meaningless", then taking care of others is really more important than anyone.

Every careful thought - it is special, and a beautiful exception.

[tiedieconderoga]

The problem is that you need a lot of money to be free of servitude.

[HeyLaughingBoy]

Servitude is thinking that you do.

[feoren]

Go tell that to the single mom working two minimum-wage jobs just to feed and house her kids. Go tell that to the homeless person. To the recent grad barely paying off the interest on his student loan that he took because he "had to go to college". Come off it.

[savanaly]

Are those all people described by the phrase "having a lot of money"? If not then you aren't contradicting their point at all.

[feoren]

They said:

> Servitude is thinking that you [need a lot of money to be free].

It's the old "money doesn't buy happiness" argument rehashed again -- plainly insulting to people who are actually in poverty.

[thealchemistdev]

People aren't trained to think that way, even though we're surrounded by hints. For example, what do we call the strongest enemy in a level?

[missedthecue]

The point where the diminishing returns start happening is actually quite high however. Especially if you don't earn a US salary.

[asdff]

Stress takes off years of life too. IMO no job is really worth stress. Whats the point of working that hard to die five or ten years after you retire?

[missedthecue]

True stress is bad for health, but anecdotally I have noticed an impact on life expectancy due to occupation. Are there studies on this? Do emergency room surgeons for instance live shorter lives than insurance actuaries?