The Hedonic Treadmill

When not huffing bath salts and black market ether, Goblin philosophers often gabber about the Hedonic Treadmill.

The pursuit of happiness is like a goblin running on a treadmill, who has to keep running just to stay in the same place.

As a goblin makes more money, expectations and desires rise in tandem, resulting in no permanent gain in happiness. We can hoard treasures and conquer kingdoms, but we can never outrun our rising expectations. The inexorable march of time will outpace us all.