Mad Men - "But what is happiness?"

[@osborl12]

"I'll buy you a drink after you wipe the blood off your mouth."
Roger's one-liners are the cherry on top of these great pitches.

[@Pechorinlives]

True that, mate. Such a brilliant TV drama double act. Both in their way world weary individuals, seen-it-all-before. Yet there's still a lot earnestness about Draper, while Roger is ahead of him in life and career to be able to be ironical, and talking less to convey more.

[@22760Dm]

I don't get tthe pitche.

[@bdcowboy22]

osborl12 It’s Not Ann Margaret.

[@sitrakamatthieu]

i don't get it ? He's saying that don is a Vampire ?

[@fishingforcandyBW]

Whom ever in the writers room who came up with that Roger One - Liner deserves best script writer period. that was amazing.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

“What is an episode of Mad Men? It a moment before you need to watch more Mad Men!”

[@thejenr8tr922]

You may have a career in advertising!

[@kanakangi]

so true

[@kennethlatham3133]

Buy you a drink if you wipe that maple syrup off your mouth, eh.

[@lospolloshermanos5659]

From a fellow Canadian - Awesome username, dude. 👍🍁

[@pcprincipal345]

- Every other chemicals are poisonous, your chemical is toasted.

[@cdpr99]

“I don’t want to hear about that letter again”
Don takes control of the room right away!

[@Daelion164]

Happiness is the smell of a new car.It's freedom from fear. It's a
billboard on the side of the road that screams reassurance that
whatever you are doing is okay. You are okay.

[@GX2re]

Not if you're DOW Chemical

[@fawadahmed9370]

It's doing wat u luv

[@RockSmithStudio]

I get it

[@pax4370]

Its that monster porno movie?

[@pcprincipal345]

It's toasted, I get it.

[@flu3b93]

Such a haunting speech.
We see through Don's soul and he sees through ours.

[@AD98.]

flu3b93 Your comment is equally haunting and beautiful

[@davids5724]

@ss in the actors eyes* haha

[@evillink1]

Don Draper had the makings of a varsity athlete.

[@k3vint0wn3r]

He's a god damn hot house flower

[@adarshladda6468]

Bro this comment is pure gold. best analogy to merge sopranos with MM

[@SaddenedSoul]

"Name another raincoat."

[@RussianNightmare]

Trojan

[@alonenjersey]

Chippendale

[@bilbobaggins4577]

Canada goose

[@bilbobaggins4577]

Barbour

[@bilbobaggins4577]

Patagonia

[@cedricbranch4076]

don and roger best duo since jordan and pippen

[@billace90]

And Bird and Mc Hale...

[@brigs247__8]

shaq and Kobe
Walt and Jesse
Those are better duos

[@66Bunn]

Bert Cooper called it best, they're "Martin & Lewis" (best description)

[@NeverSaySandwich1]

Sneed and Chuck

[@ELLIOT1311]

Rooney and Ronaldo

[@corbinmarkey466]

"Well Don, whats so urgent?"
First of all, sir, you killed Laura Palmer

[@thejenr8tr922]

Haha, I remember that!

[@Byrnzi360]

I think he’s in desperate need for a good _business hug_

[@Davecat]

THIS GUY GETS IT

[@derbrandmeister4660]

The fast exit from the meeting was really nice. This is how you make a statement.

[@ahmed-bw5mb]

"name another raincoat" 😭 roger always kills me ffs

[@jasonlefler3456]

Don sold happiness as something he believed in during the Lucky Strike/It’s Toasted pitch.
Not here.
He doesn’t buy it here.
He’s frustrated, raging, jaded.

[@attoni1]

Wow, thats really true. Considering that Don maybe was at least a little bit more happier and satisfied with his life in the begining of the series.

[@Archangeldawn]

Yeah you're right. I just went back to see that video . Don looks so vibrant and happy. It's sad to see the difference between these 2 moments of the character's life.

[@dorkmax7073]

I quoted that happiness line in my philosophy class. My teacher thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@richardsantanna5398]

Damn plagiarist

[@user-ut7lq4uv2d]

I did in a mental wellness group hahaha

[@Ynimixer]

I just love how he says "because you have a big line of diverse and charismatic products, and you keep making more" as if it doesn't mean anything

[@spastiCSpin]

i think what he meant is that they have 50% of the sales not because their ad agency is good, but because their products sell themselves.

[@BigMac8000]

You're both right here. His intonation is super leading.
Selling ice to eskimo's....

[@PiaCorleone1]

He basically says you will always need more and more...meaning you will never be happy...very sad and depressing

[@andyboyle9242]

That's pretty much the definition of how a publicly traded company needs to operate. Grow or die.

[@CollinDUBS]

Man that's just being human. I remember being 8 years old with only $5 and the possibilities were endless. Look how fast that goes down the drain.

[@JeffTingey]

Andy Boyle Andy it's a Challenger sales call

[@PornobrillenAli]

That's because happyness can't come from material things.
Lasting happyness can only come from non material things.

[@ghostfacedude93]

PornobrillenAli happiness dosent last.

[@janettenow9502]

Brilliant pitch. Excellent delivery. Calling the client on their hubris. Classic.

[@yourdaddy3942]

True, Don is a master at creating discontent and then providing a solution for it. He will make a problem even if there isn't one to snag a client's business.

[@nyterpfan]

Here's why Don Draper at this point in his life is deep down a very depressed, unfulfilled man. He doesn't know that everything you seek ultimately dwells inside of you. The Buddha said it best: "It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell."

[@user-vc5rp7nf8f]

well said

[@KevinJohnson-cv2no]

You sound like one of the hippies from the show. That isn't true happiness, that's true satisfaction. Satisfaction and happiness are not the same thing. I'm extremely happy, but I'll never be satisfied. Leave the satisfaction for the insignificant losers.

[@yourdaddy3942]

@@KevinJohnson-cv2no Too many people criticizing Don's flamboyant style and articulate speeches. Man cannot remain stagnant and will perish without activity and you have clearly highlighted the difference in happiness and satisfaction. I would give an arm and a leg to be as persuasive in speech as Don is.

[@hunpo1]

They can be different or the same. Contentment can be a happiness all its own.

[@pcprincipal345]

Happiness is to go on a date with a beautiful girl, satisfaction is get laid with her. Now which one do you prefer?

[@theroseexperience]

Sterling's one liners truly made the show, brought tears to my eyes.

[@dorkmax7073]

During my World Religions class, we were talking about Buddhism and I quoted Don on happiness. My teacher seemed amazed that it fit so well. Happiness is a moment before you need more happiness.

[@unsignedint5060]

What's ejaculation? It's a moment before you need more ejaculation.

[@jjlatinopedia]

I'm 3 inches hard already.

[@matteobonini1132]

I wanted to click on the thumb up, i couldn t ruin the precision of the other 90

[@ashkara8652]

God why isn't this a meme.

[@tendividedbysix4835]

You killed me! :'D

[@vickjr98]

😂😂😂😂🤝

[@dantae88]

Dow makes it. And it works.
God he can’t stop making up the best tag lines.

[@TheStuport]

They waited 1 hour and 45 minutes to essentially BBQ The Room in less than 5 minutes....Folks, That is called Grilling The Meat

[@dradenhaven1549]

This is the best TV show ever, or in the top 5 if you want. But the ultimate proof of success is longevity. And thanks to Netflix, I never get tired of watching MM every year.

[@BloodOfYeshuaMessiah]

*"True happiness is the ability to say , "I have enough !"*

[@sigmashenron244]

I am*

[@pavanatanaya]

I am enough

[@ladyGZSeChu]

that’ll never happen. it’s human nature to always want more

[@starr0401]

Before you need more, that is.

[@rickjust]

you mean " I am enough"

[@milvache]

Greatest sales pitch, hapiness is wanting more and never being satisfied with what you already have

[@MarvelousLXVII]

Terrible sales pitch. He didn't try to close them.

[@trevorlemon9006]

@@MarvelousLXVII hot damn your're right. that pivot around the "we're happy with our current guy' objection was pretty smooth though

[@timothyernest6429]

Poor pitch, poor attitude towards life.

[@NowherManYoshi]

I love how the themes and motifs in this show keep popping up. In the first episode of the series, Don has a "What is happiness" speech very different from this one, defining it as freedom from fear and the feeling that you're alright. But here his speech is different for 2 main reasons: 1. What the client needs to hear is different, and 2. his personal opinions on happiness have changed since the pilot. And that can tell us a lot about Don and the also about people in general...

[@albertgaspar627]

indeed, in the first episode, he was at the top and his only fear was a Pete Campbell pushing him off the top of the hill. otherwise he had the trophy wife, and a job that didn't require him to bust his ass like a factory worker. Chances are, as he gave that speech, he realized how much it was going to save his bacon--in front of his boss, and in front of a Pete Campbell who had already tried flattery and theft that day to usurp him.
But by this scene? His world's practically upside-down. That fury he expresses, is as much at his fortune as it is an exasperation with Dow's willingness to accept 50%.

[@connorsp]

@@albertgaspar627 Well said. The writer must have had someone in his life that drove him not to accept half ass work, especially within him/her self. Probably in real life Don wouldn't have got the appointment if it wasn't for his co-worker son-in-law. The writer could have used tact, respectability, and a bit of fear for this moment. But that
is not the character Don. Don was prepared for the meeting, familiar with their products and ready to unleash his empathic reply. His empathic reply was pointed right at the boss. The boss who is charge, but could be willing to hear how much more he could gain. Don acted as the boss would. He wants more, happiness is bullshit, give me more. I have a board to answer to. Don's response to the happiness question is the only one that the boss would listen to and would have even heard. Whatever the personality is sitting across from you, emulate. Even go overboard. Speak to that base personality. Otherwise, they won't hear what you have to say. Incredible bold writing for the character Don.

[@AdeptusIncompetus]

Reminds me of a certain other saying;
"It's not that everybody wants a piece, it's that everybody wants the biggest piece."

[@MrSpencerMcIntosh]

"name another raincoat" I love how smugly Roger delivers that line.

[@DrHogfan]

These "meeting" scenes are THE best part of this Series ! I was a Marketing major in College . Loved it ...except for the "presentations" I hated (still do) talking in front of the class. Seeing Don killing it in this and the Jaguar presentation allow me to see ...ok ...this is how it's done.

[@vlfavourites]

You can always count on Roger to level Don out :)

[@yunikage]

The whole point of this scene is that by the end he's talking about himself, about his own inability to find any lasting satisfaction. I'm always puzzled by the people who think Don has some sort of insight or is somehow admirable...

[@chiar0scur0]

Because it's not just his inability. It's everyone's. It just depends on the severity. Humans are never happy with what they have, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[@gatoveto]

That's the principle of advertising, or at least what they have turn into a truth.

[@logicpolice2451]

+Luis Oliveto That's the principle of nature*. It's how we became the most successful species on the planet. And it will be what destroys us.

[@Prestonator]

What makes Don admirable, and brilliant, is that he turns his own life experiences and feelings, whether good or bad, into ads that make companies and himself successful. He often seems to fail in his private life, but turns it into success in the business world.

[@Ladco77]

It's not some special insight. He's projecting his own emotional shortcomings onto the clients and it works because people who shop are humans too and have the same emotional shortcomings and when it comes down to it, we make most of our decisions based on emotion.

[@davidfisher5599]

Quite simply the greatest moment in the series.

[@patmagroin9950]

better than Freddy Rumsen playing Mozart with his fly?

[@algebraizt]

Holy shit! It's the President from Red Alert 2!

[@starr0401]

Die Waffen! Legt an!

[@Jac0bIAm]

This is the exact thing that went through my mind as I was watching this :)

[@sevkassabian]

Hahaha That's the first time I saw that actor. Then later in Robocop 1987

[@leviathanmg]

I liked how Don used his service in Korea to help pitch the napalm. I thought of it while re-watching "The Milk and Honey Route."

[@jshepard152]

Like when he was working for Caldecott Farms and the owner said that horse meat is delicious. "I've eaten it."

[@mattbent2]

I don't think it's meant to be "wise." Don is, basically, the embodiment of the advertising/ corporate mentality. As such, he has enjoyed all the perks (money, professional success) of that lifestyle but suffers from the shallowness/ emptiness that this philosophy brings with it.

[@clarkmannen8789]

No, I definitely think it’s a more sophisticated take than that. It’s essentially the writers placing the greatest epiphany any of us can have into the mouth of the character who needs it most but internalises it least. People strive for happiness in their lives. A fleeting emotion fuelled by chemicals in the brain. The ultimate high, the dragon we’re all born chasing to no avail. Life isn’t about finding happiness, it’s about finding fulfilment; meaning in the misery, the suffering inherent to self consciousness in life.

[@aoz307]

Deep.

[@Benjumanjo]

You can tell yourself that this lifestyle is shallow or empty. But you just sound like you're trying to intellectualize your lack of success. You want to put it down so you don't feel so bad for not having it.

[@Pdmc-vu5gj]

@@Benjumanjo Not really.

[@Benjumanjo]

@@Pdmc-vu5gj denial, classic defense mechanism

[@-saidul_gaming]

Anyone? 2024❤

[@otterinbham9641]

Roger always had the best lines.

[@joerules829]

It’s ironic that he brought up the fact that they were subsidizing all of their agency’s other ventures because that’s exactly what Lucky Strike had done for them until they fired them to switch agencies.

[@abhishekjadhav4572]

That's what's so brilliant. He wasn't stating some new finding he'd come across; he was telling them how the business is and how he ran it.

[@nickperry3255]

"What is happiness? It's a moment before you need more happiness."

[@ozricaurora6943]

Such a brilliant contrast to his speech about happiness in the first episode

[@adaragia9884]

Never Gets Old

[@venicec3310]

One of my favorite scenes don shows his insight into human nature and words it beautifully here

[@goldendyme8506]

Don has become more greedy but it shows that nothing will ever make him be satisfied no matter how great things are.

[@yodhin79]

There is a great Vedic concept that desire is the root of all suffering and of creation itself. Without desire, one is infinitely more happy. The difficult thing is to stop having the want.

[@jasonlefler3456]

Victor Prospect Don is not an antihero.
He’s an anti-Buddha...
well, until the very last scene of the series...

[@SuperUYUYUYUYUYUY]

This "great" vedic concept is bullshit ....Desire is root cause of every action, action propels us forward.... Without desire there would not be any thrust forward.... Sell crazy some place else.....

[@mydogskips2]

@@SuperUYUYUYUYUYUY I was looking for someone to say this. I'll take it even a step further... Without desire we'd all be dead. It is desire that compels us to live, to do all we need to survive.

[@seththomas9105]

Biological desire is what propels all creatures to procreate, eat, acquire food and shelter. Desire is pretty useful actually. It's only when desires turn to addictions that they turn detrimental.

[@priley817]

American Rebel79 yeah i completely disagree with all that bs you spew. What is the point of life without desire. If you desire nothing you are fine with anything. A lack of standards is no way to live life. I want it all.... i want to CONQUER. You sound like the plebeian class. The greatest feeling in life is thrusting your strength upon the world.

[@Mongo61]

And THAT is how you say "Fuck You" to a potential client and are still in the running for his business.

[@uscman]

My top pick for Reed Richards in a Fantastic Four film!

[@attilathechump9458]

"All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing."

[@stevesmodelbuilds5473]

What is happiness? It's that quiet contentment and serenity that comes from hard work rewarded, honest achievements, and watching your children to grow into strong, caring, independent, productive people.

[@supervenomas9211]

2:24-2:44 sums up the whole series, the best 20 seconds of television ever!!

[@mosipd]

In the Fortune 100, you don't get anywhere unless you're hungry.

[@351cleavland]

The way he frames "happiness" makes it an innoculation against contentment.

[@swarleystinson6733]

*"Happiness is a myth we seek,*
*When manifested surely irks,*
*Like river speeding to the plains,*
*On its arrival slows and murks,*
*For man is happy only in his* *aspirations to the heights,*
*When he attains his goal he cools*
*and long for other distant flights"*
- *Kahlil Gibran*

[@siroutrage1045]

I just realized this explains his relationship with Megan. And several women. He didn’t want 50% of them. He wanted 100%

[@bricksblood200]

You got it, thats why he fuck other girls when she start with the Hollywood BS.

[@abhishekjadhav4572]

Exactly. If he could've been just a LITTLE bit more malleable with Megan, it could've worked.

[@biggiesmol]

Damn it, Don! You've done it again

[@Byrnzi360]

Baxter was such a hardass. What he needed was a business hug.

[@irf6615]

"I dont wanna hear about that letter again"

[@Hot18Shot]

Always leave the room with them wanting more.
Or some shit.

[@Silverpinstudios]

What’s happiness? It’s a moment before you need more happiness. The best fucking line ever

[@Radnally]

The inner story....we all project our selves

[@my88110]

To me, happiness is not unattainable. It is tainable.

[@cmob0015]

I love this show! Great exploration of the monster media's early development. Cult of personality.

[@johngleason1776]

Businesses sell happiness. If youre already happy they have no one to sell too. Thats why so many ads seem designed to make you feel like shit about yourself. They create a problem and then offer to sell you the solution to that problem.

[@jonathanbirch2022]

If marketers can’t sell happiness then they will sell fear

[@elliottrodriguez6394]

I watch this in between sales calls

[@jshepard152]

You should be watching Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross. "Get them to sign..."

[@travismcgee100]

2:29 -- "But what is happiness? It's a moment before you need more happiness."

[@MarcioMoura]

This is treasure.

[@simppuful]

happiness can be a joined feeling, or a enjoyment for yourself

[@meris8486]

I love how much passion Don has here, but I hate how it's not present in the next season.

[@randomobserver8168]

Magnificent.

[@paulo2y]

now i know how inspires ray lewis everytime he makes a motivational spee h

[@peter455sd]

A very American statement

[@bradenparkes]

A very human statement.

[@LucisFerre1]

*"A very American statement"*
-
Thank you for the complement.

[@bhillboy37]

I just watched this last night.

[@elliottrodriguez6394]

Sure, Draper in spiritually unaligned with The Buddha, but he’s very much aligned with Sun Tzu and has my respect for bursting through every heavy fortification that his targets put before him

[@mapreetemails]

Happiness is in giving ...

[@astuart142]

Don is the GD MAN !!!!

[@purumr]

No desire, no objective reason to live.

[@timemastro1]

purumr prove it

[@jamesrogers47]

That's right. Once you lose your desire for the things that life offers, life no longer has purpose and you are left listlessly waiting for death in a universe without meaning. Life is, after all, utterly pointless. You come from nothing and your fate is to return to nothing; all that we do, all that we achieve, between conception and death is pointless and meaningless since our destiny is death, the dissolution of the self, and oblivion. So the pursuit of our desires, some of which we will possess, more which will always remain just beyond our grasp, is the only reason not to confront the absurdity of life and cut short the farce by our own hand.

[@xavilonia]

@@jamesrogers47 If life is meaningless, then each of us gets to dictate what a meaningful life is to us. Cut life short by our own hand just spreads negative feelings to all of those who like us. If there are people in our lives that like us and want our success and happiness, isn't that meaningful?

[@Karlifornication]

"Charismatic products....zip tape, styrofoam"
Geez Don groveling at his best lol.

[@dontask6863]

Back in that era, that stuff was groundbreaking product that was vastly unique to anything on the market.

[@stephenallen4625]

That guy in the glasses, the one who said he thought they'd bring Ken, is such a perfect foil to this scene. He's clean cut, stern, and even sighs in frustration when Don says he wants to talk about their businesses. Within 45 seconds, the audience knows that at least one of them isn't interested in what Don is saying/pitching.
Just another one of those know-it-all's in Don's way. Guys like him, like Cutler, are so eager to be the smartest in the room. Especially when a creative like Don is in there. I know this is long, but just a detail that makes Don going for the throat in this so rewarding.

[@michaelmccluskey7386]

Absolutely incredible work

[@challengerstrength2297]

Roger post LSD trip was one hell of a business/account man

[@jshepard152]

2:11 When Amurica needs it...

[@mertgover85]

Season 5 episode 12.

[@luchokiedis]

+Mert Göver 11

[@tb121991]

liar

[@Hot18Shot]

God this dialogue is *crisp*.

[@jodythomas4324]

For me, after The Sopranos, Mad Men is the greatest show of all time and I sometimes imagine if HBO had green lit the show instead of letting it go to AMC with Matthew Weiner still at the helm it definitely could’ve ended up as easily the greatest show of all time. It still was amazing on AMC though.

[@valtairbrito6102]

Nice. I love.

[@SonofIsrael1]

I'll hire this guy.

[@jshepard152]

Not on his watch.

[@scalefree07]

"you want all of it" This is it...

[@apleseed91]

hes insatiable.

[@nikan_arami]

2:23 = Don Starts to KILL

[@BtrDaze]

I don't want to hear about that letter again

[@haleymiller5400]

I watched this before my job interview. Now, I work for Dow Chemical.

[@jshepard152]

But despite their big line of diverse and charismatic products, you're not happy. Or at least, not for long.

[@justingreen2432]

I feel like the essence of Mad Men was always these philosophical gems that would arise out of Dons pitches. Like he was just trying to sell shit but instead he dropped a Confucius quote.

[@josephcyr4900]

id like to carry roger sterling in my pocket wherever i go!

[@JoeyCap.]

I would say Don and Roger are like Ying and Yang
But it's more like Yin and Yang"ish"

[@ux4861]

how did they ever get away with talking to clients like that? 🤣

[@KerrangCooper]

MIC DROP

[@erolish]

Started watching Suits, then realized Don was way more charismatic than Harvey.

[@sertorres88]

Suits started to suck on season 3, looked more like CSI show. Had so much potential and became a mediocre show.

[@erolish]

Sergio Torres
Exactly even more like Law & Order.

[@moeball740]

Damn he's good...

[@OhHeBustin]

Leland palmer

[@blobcity3591]

dalton voss

[@aroveranalysis9978]

Anyone notice this might be the moment where don sold the idea of happiness in order to secure this business deal? It's like he knew writing the letter was gonna cost him but to make a pitch so perfect that these business man would and are going to profit by a man determined to exceed, is just more than feeling okay in his own life.