Clarification/Follow-up by tonyrey on 02/09/09 1:42 pm:
I share Aristotle's view that happiness (for ourselves and others) should be our overriding priority and this is attained by living virtuously, i.e. considerately and with integrity. Moral defects lead to ill-health of mind and body with its ensuing misery.

Clarification/Follow-up by tonyrey on 02/11/09 9:34 am:
frick,

I agree poverty causes unhappiness if we can't afford the basic necessities of life or enjoy any luxuries but excessive riches bring their own problems: spiritual, psychological, social, physical and economic. Wealthy people are obviously the main target for criminals. They are faced with greater temptations to pride, vanity, greed, laziness, lust, isolation, selfishness and even boredom. Their possessions may well become a time-consuming burden and a source of anxiety.

Aristotle believed with good reason in the happy mean. For most people there is probably an optimum level between the extremes of poverty and wealth but ultimately our state of mind depends not so much on what we possess but on what we believe and cherish...