Zapopan, Jalisco, June 10, 2025.— Is it possible to achieve happiness without sacrificing excellence? This was the central question addressed by Dr. José Ramón Ayllón, a Spanish philosopher, essayist, and professor, during his inspiring lecture at the Universidad Panamericana Guadalajara Universidad Panamericana .
Under the title Classic Advice on Excellence and Happiness, Ayllón invited students, faculty, and alumni to engage in a profound ethical reflection based on classical thought.
Classical wisdom applied to modern life
The lecture’s intellectual journey explored the wisdom of authors such as Socrates, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Saint Augustine, Thomas More, and, above all, Aristotle. Ayllón highlighted how these thinkers still offer valuable principles today for building character, strengthening judgment, and living with purpose.
Aimed at students, teachers, and professionals, the talk offered practical and ethical guidelines for developing sound judgment, exercising leadership with integrity, and living with purpose.
“To live as a human being means choosing a goal and directing all one’s actions toward it,”, quoted Dr. Ayllón, referring to Nicomachean Ethics. This central idea, he explained, sums up the importance of having a life purpose and acting accordingly.
Excellence and happiness: an inseparable relationship
For Dr. Ayllón, Aristotle remains the cornerstone of thought on human behavior. “Everything there is to say about prudence, justice, friendship, or courage has already been said by him,”, he emphasized. Through powerful quotes and contemporary examples, the philosopher demonstrated how personal excellence (understood as virtue) is a viable path to happiness.
However, he cautioned that happiness is neither immediate nor guaranteed. “It is undoubtedly recognized that happiness is the greatest and best of human goods, although no one knows exactly what it consists of,”, Ayllón quoted, making it clear that this pursuit requires inner work, discernment, and resilience.
An Inner Compass for Leaders and Educators
The conference also had a strong educational focus, aimed particularly at educational leaders. “Unrestrained reason is nothing if reason rules you”, he remarked, paraphrasing Seneca, highlighting the importance of self-control and character for those who guide others.
Similarly, he cited Marcus Aurelius to illustrate the importance of prudence in leadership: knowing when to tighten the reins and when to loosen them. This ability, he said, is indispensable for those in positions of responsibility: parents, teachers, and managers. In closing, the portrait of Thomas More offered a model of wisdom, compassion, and service, reinforcing the idea that professional skill is not enough without a solid ethical foundation.
Happiness as fulfillment and the search for meaning
“Happiness is a feeling of fulfillment,”, concluded Ayllón, echoing a phrase by Julián Marías: “Happiness is a necessary impossibility”. This paradox sums up the spirit of the talk: fulfillment is not found in perfection but in the journey toward the meaning of life.
Events such as Dr. José Ramón Ayllón’s lecture contribute to our university’s humanistic ethos and offer the university community a reliable compass for living with wisdom, integrity, and hope. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: “The easiest thing is to make a mistake, the greatest mistake is to give up, and the most beautiful day is today.”
Learn more about Universidad Panamericana at: https://www.up.edu.mx/sobre-la-universidad-modelo-educativo/
