The psychological causes of unhappiness, it is clear, are many and various. But all have something in common. The typical unhappy man is one who having been deprived in youth of some normal satisfaction, has come to value this one kind of satisfaction more than any other, and has, therefore, given to his life a one-sided direction, together with a quite undue emphasis upon the achievement as opposed to the activities connected with it. There is, however, a further development which is very common in the present day. A man may feel so completely thwarted that he seeks no form of satisfaction, but only distraction and oblivion. He then becomes a devotee of "Pleasure". That is to say, he seeks to make life bearable by becoming less alive. Drunkenness, for example, is temporary suicide; the happiness that it brings is merely negative, a momentary cessation of unhappiness. The narcissist and the megalomaniac believe that happiness is possible, though they may adopt mistaken means of achieving it; but the man who seeks intoxication, in whatever form, has given up hope except in oblivion. In his case the first thing to be done is to persuade him that happiness is desirable. Men, who are unhappy, like men who sleep badly, are always proud of the fact. Perhaps their pride is like that of the fox who had lost his tail; if so, the way to cure it is to point out to them how they can grow a new tail. Very few men, I believe, will deliberately choose unhappiness if they see a way of being happy. I do not deny that such men exist, but they are not sufficiently numerous to be important. It is common in our day, as it has been in many other periods of the world's history, to suppose that those among us who are wise have seen through all the enthusiasms of earlier times and have become aware that there is nothing left to live for. The man who hold this view are genuinely unhappy, but they are proud of their unhappiness, which they attribute to the nature of the universe and consider to be the only rational attitude for an enlightened man. Their pride in their unhappiness makes less sophisticated people suspicious of its genuineness; they think that the man who enjoys being miserable is not miserable.
CSS 2011 Solved Precis
21 October 2025
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CSS 2011 Solved Precis is an excellent resource for aspirants aiming to learn precis writing through real CSS examination material. This solved precis demonstrates how to condense lengthy passages into clear, concise, and meaningful precis solutions while preserving the original sense and logical flow of the passage. It helps CSS aspirants identify key arguments, remove unnecessary details, and express complex ideas with precision and simplicity, skills essential for success in competitive exams.
Designed for serious CSS aspirants and English learners alike, this CSS Solved Precis enhances precision and analytical thinking techniques. By studying this passage, candidates learn to capture the essence of a passage in minimal words, a crucial ability for the CSS English (Précis & Composition) paper. It also helps them improve clarity, coherence, and academic precis writing discipline.
Expertly explained and prepared by Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Pakistan’s leading English mentor, this solved precis reflects his proven teaching approach that simplifies complex concepts into simple learning steps. His method builds students’ confidence and ensures their steady progress toward grasping precis writing for CSS, PMS, and other competitive exams.
CSS 2011 Solved Precis
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Precis Solution
Important Vocabulary
- Thwarted (verb): Prevented someone from accomplishing something; opposed successfully
- Contextual Explanation: A man may feel so completely thwarted that he seeks only distraction, meaning he has been prevented from achieving his goals.
- Oblivion (noun): The state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening
- Contextual Explanation: The man seeks distraction and oblivion, hoping for a state of unconsciousness or unawareness.
- Cessation (noun): The fact or process of being brought to an end or coming to an end
- Contextual Explanation: The happiness from drunkenness is merely negative, a momentary cessation of unhappiness, meaning a temporary stopping.
- Narcissist (noun): A person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves
- Contextual Explanation: The narcissist believes happiness is possible, referring to a self-obsessed individual.
- Megalomaniac (noun): A person who is obsessed with their own power
- Contextual Explanation: The megalomaniac also believes happiness is possible, referring to an individual with an obsession for power.
- Intoxication (noun): The state of being drunk or having a drug in one's system
- Contextual Explanation: The man who seeks intoxication, in whatever form, has given up hope, highlighting the state of being under the influence of substances.
- Genuineness (noun): The quality of being truly what something is said to be; authenticity
- Contextual Explanation: Less sophisticated people are suspicious of the genuineness of the wise men's unhappiness, questioning its authenticity.
Important Ideas of the Passage
The passage analyzes the internal causes behind human unhappiness. It explains that unhappiness results more from psychological habits like fear, envy, competition, and vanity than from external hardships. The author observes how modern individuals, though materially advanced, remain mentally restless and dissatisfied because they misdirect their thinking and seek happiness in illusions rather than inner balance. Moreover, the author aims to reform people's thinking by showing that unhappiness is self-created. Thus, by recognizing and correcting false values, individuals can attain genuine peace and harmony.
Main Idea of the Passage
- Human unhappiness springs from inner weaknesses, such as envy, fear, and greed, and can be overcome only by cultivating simplicity, self-knowledge, and moral balance.
Supporting Ideas Helping the Main Idea
- Individuals wrongly associate happiness with wealth, status, and comfort.
- Societies intensify unrest by promoting ambition, rivalry, and comparison.
- Citizens enslave themselves to the fear of public opinion, losing freedom.
- Education systems teach competition instead of moral discipline or contentment.
- People multiply artificial desires, ensuring their dissatisfaction.
- Individuals and societies together corrupt happiness through wrong ideals.
- True happiness arises only from inner simplicity, moderation, and thoughtful awareness.
Confused About Main and Supporting Ideas?
Kindly make sure to revise all five lectures on Precis Writing that I have already delivered. In these sessions, we discussed in detail:
- What a precis is and its purpose.
- What the main idea means and how to extract it effectively.
- What supporting ideas are and how to identify them.
- How to coordinate the main and supporting ideas while writing a concise, coherent precis.
Additionally, go through the 20 examples I shared in the WhatsApp groups. These examples highlight the Dos and Don’ts of Precis Writing, and revising them will help you avoid common mistakes and refine your technique.
Precis
Precis 1
Human beings, though surrounded by material progress, remained inwardly discontent because they correlated happiness with wealth and prestige. Additionally, societies encouraged envy, competition, and dependence on public approval in citizens, making them anxious and restless. As a result, individuals feared losing status and thus imprisoned themselves within false ideals of success. Furthermore, education promoted rivalry in people rather than moral balance while their desires multiplied beyond need, deepening their misery. Therefore, both individuals and societies created unhappiness through distorted values. Only by restoring simplicity, discipline, and self-awareness could they rediscover peace and genuine joy.
- Original Words in the Passage: 440
- Precis Word Count: 94
- Title: Psychological Roots of Unhappiness
Precis 2
Human beings, despite their material progress, remained discontent because they mistook comfort and prestige for happiness. Additionally, societies reinforced this delusion through ambition and competition while citizens enslaved themselves to public opinion and comparison. As a result, individuals, fearing judgment, lived in anxiety, and education promoted rivalry in them instead of contentment. Moreover, their desires, exceeding real needs, produced fatigue and frustration. Thus, only by embracing simplicity, self-knowledge, and balance can individuals and societies restore true happiness and achieve lasting peace and joy.
- Original Words in the Passage: 440
- Precis Word Count: 83
- Title: The Inner Causes of Unhappiness
Precis 3
Human beings, though materially successful, were inwardly unhappy because they confused luxury with true happiness. Moreover, societies fostered ambition and rivalry whereas citizens, driven by envy and public opinion, lost their freedom and peace. In addition, education valued competition over morality, and individuals’ growing desires further created discontent. Therefore, by following false ideals, people and societies distorted happiness, and only through simplicity, moderation, and self-awareness can true joy be restored.
- Original Words in the Passage: 440
- Precis Word Count: 70
- Title: False Ideals and Human Unhappiness
Precis 4
Humans, though materially advanced, always remained unhappy because they compare luxury with happiness. Moreover, societies bred endeavor and comparison, and consequently, citizens lost peace through fear and greed. Furthermore, education glorified rivalry while humans' desires grew endlessly. Thus, both people and societies corrupted happiness. Ultimately, real joy lay in simplicity and self-awareness.
- Original Words in the Passage: 440
- Precis Word Count: 52
- Title: Human Unhappiness and Its Inner Causes
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1st Update: October 21, 2025
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