Titled Poem by Ulf Karl Olov Nilsson

Titled



I would rather be happy than sad.
I'd rather have a common cold than lung cancer.
I'd rather not feel lonesome and deserted.
I'd rather feel full than hungry.
It's better to be well than to be ill.
It's better to have two hands and two legs than not to have them.
It's better to have a job than not to have one.
It's better to be rich than poor.
It's better to be young than old.
It's better to kill than to be killed.
It's better to be alive than not.
It's better to be smart than stupid.
It's better to have a career than not to have one.
I don't want to be assaulted and raped.
I'd rather not become an alcoholic.
I'd prefer not to become handicapped.
I want my relations with other people to mean something.
It's better to be able to cope with things than not.
It's better to be a man than a woman.
It's better to be tall than short.
It's better to be liked than not.
Those who don't want to have children are strange.
All those who fight and quarrel are disturbed.
It is better to have read the Divina Commedia than not to have read it.
It's great to have traveled much and widely and to have seen the world.
I would prefer to enjoy life.
It's better to have been born in Europe than in Africa.
Peace is better than war.
Democracy is better that dictatorship.
I don't want to get strangled.
I don't want to burn up.
I don't want to drown.
I'd like to do something meaningful with my life.
It's better to have done a lot than to have done little.
I'd like to get rid of my headache.
I'm rather happy than unhappy.
Warm and sunny weather is better than cold and rainy weather.

Translated into English by Fredrik Hertzberg, Karri Kokko, and Leevi Lehto

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