Against Happiness

Creativity’s Spur

Ernest Hemingway, Jackson Pollock, Winston Churchill and Sigmund Freud: These cultural icons and historical heavyweights were true melancholics, or, more simply put, depressed people. In every age and in every walk of life, you can find countless examples of other exceptionally talented and notable melancholics – from leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Napoléon Bonaparte to celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant. Indeed, if melancholia were a country, its population would include some of the globe’s most brilliant intellectuals, artists, business titans and politicians.

In some people, melancholy triggers stupendous creativity and achievement. Singer and composer Joni Mitchell calls it “the sand that makes the pearl.” She claims that her best work stems from the gloomiest periods of her life. Mitchell respects, even honors, her blue states. She says, “Chase away the demons and they will take the angels with them,” meaning that accepting the darker parts of herself is essential to recognizing and understanding the good. Former Beatles member and music icon John Lennon also penned many of his most memorable lyrics during times of great loss...