This quote suggests that genuine joy or ‘gaiety’ is the only real, tangible form of happiness. All other forms of happiness are compared to a ‘promissory note’, which is a promise for future payment. In other words, any other forms of happiness are not immediate or real, but rather a promise or expectation of happiness to come. The use of financial terms like ‘hard cash’ and ‘promissory note’ emphasizes the difference between something that is concrete, immediate, and reliable (gaiety), versus something that is uncertain, delayed, and possibly unreliable (everything else).
Applying this idea to today’s world, we might consider how society often chases after ‘promissory notes’ of happiness. For example, many people believe that achieving certain milestones like getting a high-paying job, buying a house, or getting married will make them happy. However, these are all future promises of happiness, not guaranteed or immediate forms of joy. According to the quote, the only reliable and true form of happiness is gaiety, which might be interpreted as living in the moment, enjoying the simple pleasures of life, and not relying on future promises or expectations for your joy.
In terms of personal development, this quote might encourage us to focus on cultivating gaiety in our lives, rather than chasing after uncertain promises of happiness. This could mean learning to enjoy the present moment, finding joy in everyday activities, and not putting our happiness on hold until we achieve certain goals or milestones. It could also mean learning to find joy within ourselves, rather than relying on external factors to make us happy.
