The problem of true happiness has always been captivating and relevant for human society. Searching of happiness is the essence of a human being, and this raises burning questions: What is happiness? Can a person be happy? Where should we find it? This problem is tightly connected with philosophy and psychology and was examined in the literature many times. Since that times when human civilization was created, the problem of true happiness was examined by many writers and philosophers. Boethius also contributed much to the development of this question.

Boethius’ masterpiece “The Consolation of Philosophy” can be considered as a peak of his literary and creative work. He had written it in prison before he was executed. The character of the book reminds a philosophic tractate, where prose interchanges with verses. The Philosophy appears like goodness here that holds the conversation with the imprisoned man, who is interested in main human questions about sense of life, a person’s nature, vices and virtues, freedom, love and happiness. Reading this book, one can find answers on these questions and analyze them. There are many questions we are worried about, and the question “Can a good person be unhappy?” is not an exception.

Book III of “The Consolation of Philosophy” reveals the essence of true happiness. Perfect happiness can be achieved thanks to the supreme good that comprises all possible human virtues. According to Boethius, the supreme good for a man is God, and only the communion with God can help a person to be entirely happy. A man can not achieve true happiness on Earth, because all human goods are illusive. According to the author, any happiness on earth would be a Daniel of God if a person believes in his existence, and this idea is not contested here.

Human happiness is passing and can be false. The author discourses of passing character of earth goods: wealth, honor, high posts, fame and many other things each person looks for. These concepts are not stable and can be impermanent. One can be wealthy and honorable, but one day he/she may lose money and honor. A respected man who is on a peak of his life may find himself on the bottom and become an outcast of society. A free man can be imprisoned, and a powerful king may be casted from the throne. Beauty and health vanish as a person gets older, and he/she has nothing to do but obey this law of God who controls everyone and everything.

In this context one can recollect the content of the Bible and place when Adam and Eva lost their absolute happiness in the Garden of Eden. Perfect human happiness is examined only in terms of the Heavens with Paradise. Earth people seek for happiness by means of satisfaction of their needs, desires and goods. Even a good person is on the wrong way when he/she thinks that earth goods may lead to supreme happiness. A human being always wants more and more, creating the illusion of happiness and false belief in absolute happiness.

A human being is not a perfect creature, because he/she was born on Earth. Boethius’s thoughts suggest that a person is not harmonious and has a double nature. The question here is whether a good person can be unhappy. Boethius answer is quite logic: yes, a person can be unhappy on Earth, because all earth goods can satisfy but not make even a good person perfectly happy. True happiness is possible only on the Heavens. One may think that this idea sounds pessimistic, unfair, and there is no alternative to it. This book is quite religious, and some religious people agree with the Boethius’ message. The world outlook is an individual and subjective thing, but to understand this problem better it is necessary to present the opinion of an ordinary earth man, who agrees with this statement with the writer.

One may agree with Boethius about the fact that a good person can be unhappy. It is necessary to say that there are no truly good people on Earth, because nothing is ideal in the world.  For most people, happiness is a changeable concept. Life consists of happy and unhappy moments. There are many examples of good people, who found themselves unhappy in this or that situations.