The problem was previously aired by John Stuart Mill when he said it was better to be Socrates unhappy than a pig happy. I have always had a sneaking sympathy for the pig, so long as he can be bred to live as long as Socrates.

• 当约翰 - 斯图亚特 - 米尔说到做一个不快乐的苏格拉底比做一只幸福的猪要好时，他就早已经涉及到这一问题了，而我却曾在心底赞同过猪的生活，只要它能活得像苏格拉底那么长。