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Article HAPPINESS: A FRAGMENT. ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Happiness: A Fragment.
but if we were there to find a contented man , whose courage had not deserted him , should we pity him ? No , surely , we should rather consider him happy , and look upon him as one that escaped a cannon ball that whistled by his ears , and returned safe and victorious from the field of battle : for in fact misfortunes cannot have reached one that does not feel them ; wherefore , instead of pitying , we should rather envy himand view him as a manwho triumphs over his
ene-, , mies , whom he tramples upon . On the other hand , if we learn that some great good luck has happened to a man , or some very advantageous , thing to a family , we flock thither to pay our compliments of felicitation , when we find a choleric man much displeased with himself . A servant , perhaps , breaks a drinking-g . ' ass ; the dinner , perhaps , is over done ; the
coffee is not quite roasted enough . Such critical accidents are sufficient to make him forget the good fortune that has just befallen him . Compliments of felicitation should very justly be changed to those of condolence : for though the misfortunes he meets with , are in themselves of no great ' consequence , they are nevertheless very afflicting to him who takes them much to heart . Thus it is
not'always the thing itself that gives us pain ; but the idea which we frame of it , as Epictetus hath very properly observed , in these words : Taexffirtt T _ r . _ tvvpw 5 r * J $ y ra Jrpa . yfAara ., d > , \ B ' Tip * ir ; c _ y fiat _ : v ooyyala . When we arm ourselves against misfortunes , and resist them , we suffer much less ; as when we courageously oppose the enemy .
we frequently obtain an honourable capitulation , and terms that are at least more endurable , without taking into the consideration , that it is always consolatory and honourable to have bravely sustained misfortunes : for , as Seneca says , no one displays his virtues but in times of danger : Avida est pericu / i virtus . To illustrate this position , it is only necessary to cast one ' s eyes upon masters and their servantsand we shall find a far greater number of contented
coun-, tenances among the latter ' than the former . Is there any thing more common than to seea master with a sullen brow , in an elegant sedan , carried by men whose countenances bespeak their chearfulness and gaiety ? We must not seek for joy in palaces alone , it is as often found by rustic fire sides . - I remember sometime ago to have paid a visit to two different
persons in the same day . The first of these had a very magnificent house , with a very fine garden ; I asked him ' if he thought he should have much fruit this year ? ' . To this he replied , ' that he could say nothing about the matter , as he very seldom went out of his chamber . ' 1 found , the other person shut up in a very close room , that was obscure and badlv furnishedand I therefore concluded he was very
, hadly lodged ; but he found in this closet , as it mi ght be called , many conveniences which I did not discover . He informed me , that this apartment was very quiet ; that he was not incommoded with the sun in summer , nor exposed to the bleak winds in winter ; and that his chimney drew surprisingly well , so that he was never troubled with smoke . He then shewed me his pleasure-garden , which con-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Happiness: A Fragment.
but if we were there to find a contented man , whose courage had not deserted him , should we pity him ? No , surely , we should rather consider him happy , and look upon him as one that escaped a cannon ball that whistled by his ears , and returned safe and victorious from the field of battle : for in fact misfortunes cannot have reached one that does not feel them ; wherefore , instead of pitying , we should rather envy himand view him as a manwho triumphs over his
ene-, , mies , whom he tramples upon . On the other hand , if we learn that some great good luck has happened to a man , or some very advantageous , thing to a family , we flock thither to pay our compliments of felicitation , when we find a choleric man much displeased with himself . A servant , perhaps , breaks a drinking-g . ' ass ; the dinner , perhaps , is over done ; the
coffee is not quite roasted enough . Such critical accidents are sufficient to make him forget the good fortune that has just befallen him . Compliments of felicitation should very justly be changed to those of condolence : for though the misfortunes he meets with , are in themselves of no great ' consequence , they are nevertheless very afflicting to him who takes them much to heart . Thus it is
not'always the thing itself that gives us pain ; but the idea which we frame of it , as Epictetus hath very properly observed , in these words : Taexffirtt T _ r . _ tvvpw 5 r * J $ y ra Jrpa . yfAara ., d > , \ B ' Tip * ir ; c _ y fiat _ : v ooyyala . When we arm ourselves against misfortunes , and resist them , we suffer much less ; as when we courageously oppose the enemy .
we frequently obtain an honourable capitulation , and terms that are at least more endurable , without taking into the consideration , that it is always consolatory and honourable to have bravely sustained misfortunes : for , as Seneca says , no one displays his virtues but in times of danger : Avida est pericu / i virtus . To illustrate this position , it is only necessary to cast one ' s eyes upon masters and their servantsand we shall find a far greater number of contented
coun-, tenances among the latter ' than the former . Is there any thing more common than to seea master with a sullen brow , in an elegant sedan , carried by men whose countenances bespeak their chearfulness and gaiety ? We must not seek for joy in palaces alone , it is as often found by rustic fire sides . - I remember sometime ago to have paid a visit to two different
persons in the same day . The first of these had a very magnificent house , with a very fine garden ; I asked him ' if he thought he should have much fruit this year ? ' . To this he replied , ' that he could say nothing about the matter , as he very seldom went out of his chamber . ' 1 found , the other person shut up in a very close room , that was obscure and badlv furnishedand I therefore concluded he was very
, hadly lodged ; but he found in this closet , as it mi ght be called , many conveniences which I did not discover . He informed me , that this apartment was very quiet ; that he was not incommoded with the sun in summer , nor exposed to the bleak winds in winter ; and that his chimney drew surprisingly well , so that he was never troubled with smoke . He then shewed me his pleasure-garden , which con-