The Moral Price of Happiness at Others' Expense

In a world where everyone strives for a happy life, the idea of deriving satisfaction from the suffering of others appears not only dubious but also morally destructive. From the very start, it becomes evident that the pursuit of well-being based on the pain of others undermines the foundation of human values and erodes the very structure of society.

Modern discussions often emphasize that success achieved at the expense of someone else’s misfortune loses its true spiritual purity and cannot be considered genuine happiness. The ethical choice made by a person who wagers on someone else’s fate reflects an inner degradation that ultimately negatively impacts collective welfare. In situations where even minor injustices can escalate into tragic social conflicts, it becomes even clearer that personal happiness built on others’ suffering leads to the decay of the moral climate and results in deep social wounds.

Such an approach contradicts the ideals of love and humanity upon which our society is built. Refusing to profit from the pain of others is not merely a personal choice but a duty to oneself and future generations. And although the temptation may be great, true perfection is achieved when each person strives for harmony not at the expense of someone else’s misery, but through mutual respect and support.

In conclusion, one can confidently state that real happiness lies in creating a world founded on moral values and justice, where everyone has the opportunity for complete development without inflicting pain on others. Fight for such a life, for only then can our society attain true strength and stability.

Is it ethical and viable to build one’s own happiness on the misfortune of others, and what consequences might it have?

Essentially, the idea of constructing one’s own happiness on the suffering of other people is regarded as ethically unacceptable and morally unsustainable. The reflections quoted emphasize that this approach undermines the foundations of human virtue and leads to tragic consequences for society as a whole.

For instance, one text states:
"The person of evangelical all-human love cannot build his happiness on someone else’s misfortune. ... And so, you simply have to disgrace him, humiliate and torment him, and raise your building on the tears of this disgraced old man! Will you agree to be the architect of such a building under these conditions?" (source: link ).
This citation clearly illustrates that happiness based on another’s pain loses its moral purity, prompting us to reconsider the justice of such an approach.

Furthermore, another source asserts:
"A Christian cannot build his own happiness on someone else’s misfortune. ... No; the pure Russian soul resolves it as follows: 'Even if I alone lose happiness, let my misfortune be immeasurably greater than that old man’s misfortune, ... I do not want to be happy by ruining someone else!'" (source: link ).
Here, it is emphasized that a true moral choice requires renouncing personal well-being if it comes at the expense of another’s suffering, even if the individual gain appears minimal.

An additional point regarding the societal consequences of such an approach is also raised. One source contemplates:
"Just like in a revolution: now we will defeat them all and begin a good life. ... Because evil, injustice, and murder have infiltrated every family, every home. Now even little children are beginning to take revenge on adults, killing moms, dads, grandmothers..." (source: link ).
This citation demonstrates that attempts to build happiness on evil, violence, and humiliation inevitably lead to the breakdown of society’s moral foundation and result in deep social wounds that eventually bring about catastrophic consequences.

Finally, another thinker emphasizes the moral evaluation:
"Pleasure can be unseemly and immoral, happiness may be shameful, while suffering is morally valuable and noble. The goal that ethics seeks is not the empirical happiness of people, but their ideal moral perfection. Therefore... happiness itself is subject to moral judgment..." (source: link ).
It follows that happiness achieved at the expense of another’s suffering cannot be considered genuine, as it inevitably proves unworthy from a moral standpoint.

Thus, it can be concluded that constructing one’s own happiness using another’s misfortune as a foundation is an ethically flawed choice. It not only undermines the moral value of personal happiness but also brings dire consequences for social justice and the stability of society.

Supporting citation(s):
"The person of evangelical all-human love cannot build his happiness on someone else’s misfortune. ... Will you agree to be the architect of such a building under these conditions?" (source: link )

"A Christian cannot build his own happiness on someone else’s misfortune. ... I do not want to be happy by ruining someone else!" (source: link )

"Just like in a revolution: ... Now even little children are beginning to take revenge on adults, killing moms, dads, grandmothers..." (source: link )

"Pleasure can be unseemly and immoral, happiness may be shameful, ... happiness itself is subject to moral judgment..." (source: link )