Thoughts?

"Happiness and unhappiness are, after all, just the same. You shed tears when you laugh and also when you cry. And, besides, they imply one another: happy now, unhappy later; unhappy now, happy later. The reasonable, prudent, "Wise" man strives not for happiness, but for a tranquil detachment which frees him from this endless oscillation between gratification and frustration."

-Clifford Geertz

I would love to get a discussion going on this! Is striving for happiness in life just setting yourself up for disappointment (since "good" is only good in comparison to "bad")? Is so-called tranquil detachment of a wise man worth being absent from the flow of ups and downs in life? Or does striving for happiness in life hold more meaning than being constantly joyful feeling? (Such as "striving for happiness" meaning not holding yourself back from doing what you want to do, despite the ups and downs that may come along, for example). Thoughts?!?! (Heidi!??!) :)