Erich Maria Remarque. Shadows in Paradise (№ 429193)

We have learned some concepts from the last century, the century of romance, but now they should be greatly changed. This includes the concept of happiness. How easy it was to be happy! Moreover, happiness meant absolute happiness! I am not talking now about writers or counterfeiters - they have been able to fool entire epochs with their cunning lies; even great people fell under the hypnosis of a bright ball with gold leaf, called "happiness": they considered it a panacea for everything! The person who fell in love was happy, and since he was happy, then he was absolutely happy!