Good or Bad or Ugly?

I was reading Einstein's biography.. and came to the conclusion that "Greatness to the mass comes with a personal cost"

Sometimes, it is because just the way we are or sometimes life just shapes you that way. I am a firm believer of everything that happens in our life is for a bigger cause, a much more intelligent and complex design that we can comprehend. Why is it that some of the greatest people who have made striking contribution to the society in the field of science, philosophy, music, art, intellect have an unsucessful or unhappy personal life??

I don't know if the word 'unhappy' ha the same meaning for them. In most cases they are so engrossed or are so passionate about pursuing their dreams that their defination of happiness, peace and success is different from the rest. For e.g. Einstein and Buddha.

They both made amazing contribution to science and philosophy. They were absolutley in love with their work and passion. They were very happy and satisfied in their own world. But according to the society, they both failed as a father, a husband or a son. They caused pain to people who cared for them or stood by them. But nobody remembers them today for their failures.

They both are living legends today. Were they good, bad or ugly ? As per the society's defination of 'Emotions' , 'Happiness' and 'Relationships', the parameters used to judge a person they were failures. But when you look at the contribution they made to this very society, the coin is flipped. We as a society are here because of them. Sorry, if this offends anybody. But these are some facts that history has documented about them.

I personally admire them both. But I always, wondered what is it that was absolutley important to them? Or may be they do not have such absolute needs? I sometimes, wonder what were their own thoughts and opinion about their life? Did they see it as a success or a failure? Did they even have such terms in their dictionary? Did they even think about these things? Did failure, success, happiness have the same meaning for them? I admire them both for their intellect and vision. So what is, that they valued most in their life?

"Knowledge" , "Passion" or "Nothing"?

I guess, great men/women who make such huge contribution to the world balance out their contribution by paying personal costs. Why do they choose to do so? Are they just different? Or they just have a different set of of eyes? If they did not make those personal choices they wouldn't be what they are! or Did they overlook their shortcomings and focused on their strengths, passion, and goal?

Doesn't this indicate that may be, they were also just normal people like the rest of us, with their own shortcomings? If that's the case then may be, we all have the potential to be like them as well. But are we willing to accept the cost, like they did?

I don't know. May be its a personal choice. And requires immense dedication, passion and focus that it's hard to comprehend on the fly!

Having said, that this society owe's a lot to the network of people who surrounded these great men and women, in their time. That's the only way I think, we can stand up to what they gave to the society.