Most of us are brought up to believe that, if we work hard, treat people decently, adhere to values such as honesty and fairness, then we will have a happy life. But as Roth says in The Counterlife, “It’s just heartbreaking that if you’re nice to people, if you’re reasonable, if you’re modest, they treat all over you…it’s a cruel thing that all the virtues that we’ve been brought up with are nothing, absolutely nothing, in marriage, at work, everywhere.”

I apologise for relying on Roth yet again, but I am a fan. I can’t help it. The message is gloomy, but largely true. To get ahead, we must do the opposite of what we are taught or know to be right. Trampling is a way of life. Trampling allows you to gain wealth. Wealth gives you freedom. Freedom gives you happiness. Wealth allows you to finally be magnanimous. The end justifies the means.

This is all crap of course. Deferring happiness while you behave abysmally means you never enjoy what Alan Watts described as the dance or music of life as it unfolds. There are some who love the act of trampling. Ejaculatory joy comes from back stabbing, undermining, gaslighting, cheating, being fraudulent. They may acquire great wealth. That is no reason to follow their lead.