In order to have great happiness you have to have great pain and unhappiness - otherwise how would you know when you're happy?
The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%.
My parents didn't have the opportunities that my wife and I have now, from a quality of life standpoint.