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74
In all these cases – in all cases where the power of
the will can be exercised over the thoughts – let those thoughts be
directed towards happiness. Look out for the brightest, – for the
brightest side of things – & keep your face constantly turned towards it.
If exceptions there are, those exceptions are but few – and sanctioned
only by the consideration that a less favorable view may in its
results produce a larger sum of enjoyment on the whole, as where
for example an lesser increased estimate of difficulty or danger might be
needful to call up a greater exertion for the getting rid of a
present annoyance. When the mind, however, reposes on its own
complacencies & looks around itself for in search of food for thought, – when
it seeks repos rest from laborious occupation – or is forced upon
inaction by the pressure of adjacent circumstances – let all its
ideas be made to spring up in the realms of pleasure, as far as
the will can act upon their production.
A large part of existence is necessarily passed
in inaction. By day for to take an instance from the thousand in constant recurrence when in attendance on
others – where on a situation of infirmity and time is lost by
being kept waiting – by night, when sleep is unwilling
to close the eyelids the economy of happiness recommends the
occupation of pleasurable though. t In walking abroad, or in
resting at home – the mind cannot be vacant – its thoughts
may be useful, – useless – or pernicious to happiness. Direct them aright – the habit of happy thoughts will spring up like
any other habit.
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Identifier: | JB/015/396/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
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deontology |
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linking material |
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recto |
f74 |
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sir john bowring |
[[watermarks::[britannia with shield motif]]] |
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5612 |
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