self. Our language expresses this admirably. do we say if we have had a happy day? have enjoyed ourselves. What We say we This expression of our mother-tongue seems very suggestive. Our happiness depends upon ourselves. We differ, however, so much from one another in condition, circumstance, age, duties, and acquirements, that it may seem impossible to lay down any general rules, and presumptuous even to make suggestions. Varro long ago cited 288 opinions of philosophers with reference to happiness. Nevertheless there is no one advanced in life, however successful his or her career may have been, who does not look back with regret on some faults which need not have been committed, some temptations which might have been resisted, some mistakes which could have been avoided, if only they had known then what they know now; and some experience which, without any real sacrifice or difficulty, might have made their lives brighter, happier, and more useful. "Theodore Parker was loaded with erudition, but exclaimed on his premature death-bed, 'Oh, that I had known the art of life, or found some book, or some man to tell me how to live, to study, to take exercise.'"* It is recorded that in Athens there was a law according to which any man who had a lighted candle and refused to allow another to light his at it, was to be punished with death. Plutarch tells us in a noble passage that "It was for the sake of others that I first undertook to write biographies; but I soon began to dwell upon and delight in them for myself, endeavouring, to the best of my ability, to regulate my own life, and to make it like those who were reflected in their history as it were in a mirror before me. Thus, by our familiarity with history and the habit of writing it, we so train ourselves by constantly receiving into our minds the memorials of the great and good, that should anything base or vicious be placed in our way by the society into which we are necessarily thrown, we reject it from our thoughts by fixing them calmly and serenely on some of these great exemplars."** In theory we all, or at any rate a great majority, regard peace and happiness as the greatest good; but ** Life of Timoleon. * Youman's Modern Culture. in practice many throw them away for wealth or power or fame. It may, indeed, be said to many of us, as Christ said of Jerusalem: "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!" No doubt life is difficult. "Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished. Force maketh nature more violent in the return; doctrine and discourse maketh nature less importune; but custom only doth alter and subdue nature." ""* Life is not a picture or even a page, but a book of many pages and many chapters, by no means easy to read. We speak of the world, but in fact there are many worlds, and everyone creates his own world for himself. All men desire happiness, but few know how to secure it. It is wise to seek for interests rather than pleasures. Those who are never grave when they are young, will be melancholy when they are old, while those "that sow in tears shall reap in joy."* Solomon tells us that "he that loveth pleasure shall ** Psalm CXXVI. * Bacon. be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."* Thomas à Kempis puts it on higher ground, but went perhaps too far when he said: "Behold the truth: the two you cannot have, here in this world to pass delightful days, and afterwards to reign a king with Christ." "It is a perfect sin," said Max Müller, "not to be happy." We must not, indeed, expect too much. "Connoissons donc notre portée; nous sommes quelque chose, et ne sommes pas tout."** It is most important to form a just conception of life, not to be disconcerted by the contradictions and vicissitudes, to be prepared for all its varied phases— successes and reverses, triumphs and disappointments, hopes and fears, health and ill-health, pleasures and pains, joys and sorrows, happy memories and vain regrets. "Whilst you are upon earth," said Selden, "enjoy the good things that are here (to that end were they * Proverbs XXI. **"We must learn our limits; we are all something, but not everything" (Pascal). X given), and be not melancholy, and wish yourself in heaven." Those who do not value life, certainly do not deserve it. In the teaching of Christ happiness was not only the reward of duty, but a duty itself. ness: Self-control is perhaps the first requisite of happi Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, That is to say, true sovereign power—almost, I might say, the power best worth having-namely, the power over oneself. Everyone is ruled by somebody, and it is better to be governed by oneself than by anybody else. Caprice for caprice, another's whims are more easily borne than one's own. Moreover, one can more or less often escape from the tyranny of others, but our own is always with us. To obey no one is better than to command anyone; and to control oneself is better than to rule over anyone else. Everyone is bound to make the best of himself: |