The Happiness Habit

The highest happiness must always come from the exercise of the best thing in us.

The greatest happiness must always come from using the best in us.

When you find happiness in anything but useful work, you will be the first man or woman to make the discovery.

If you find happiness in anything other than useful work, you'll be the first person ever to do so.

If you take an inventory of yourself at the very outset of your career you will find that you think you are going to find happiness in things or in conditions. Most people think they are going to find the largest part of their happiness in money, what money will buy or what it will give them in the way of power, influence, comforts, luxuries. They think they are going to find a great deal of their happiness in marriage. How quickly they find that the best happiness they will ever know is that which must be limited to their own capacity for enjoyment, that their happiness can not come from anything outside of them but must be developed from within. Many people believe they are going to find much of their happiness in books, in travel, in leisure, in freedom from the thousand and one anxieties and cares and worries of business; but the moment they get in the position where they thought they would have freedom many other things come up in their minds and cut off much of the expected joy. When they get money and leisure they often find that they are growing selfish, which cuts off a lot of their happiness. No man able to work can be idle without feeling a sense of guilt at not doing his part in the world, for every time he sees the poor laboring people who are working for him, who are working everywhere, he is constantly reminded of his meanness in shifting upon others what he is able to do and ought to do himself. Idleness is the last place to look for happiness. Idleness is like a stagnant pool. The moment the water ceases to flow, to work, to do something, all sorts of vermin and hideous creatures develop in it. It becomes torpid and unhealthy giving out miasma and repulsive odors. In the same way work is the only thing that will keep the individual healthy and wholesome and clean. An idle brain very quickly breeds impurities.

If you take stock of yourself at the very start of your career, you will find that you expect happiness to come from things or circumstances. Most people expect to find most of their happiness in money. They look to what money can buy or give them in power, influence, comforts, and luxuries. They also expect to find a great deal of happiness in marriage. How quickly they discover that the greatest happiness they will ever know is limited by their own capacity for enjoyment. Happiness cannot come from anything outside them. It must be developed from within. Many people believe they will find much of their happiness in books, travel, leisure, and freedom from countless business anxieties, cares, and worries. But as soon as they reach the position where they expected freedom, other concerns enter their minds. These concerns rob them of much of the joy they expected. When they gain money and leisure, they often find themselves growing selfish. This, too, robs them of much happiness. No one who is able to work can remain idle without feeling guilty for not doing a share of the world’s work. Whenever such people see the poor laborers working for them and working everywhere, they are reminded of their own meanness. They have shifted onto others what they can and should do themselves. Idleness is the last place to look for happiness. It is like a stagnant pool. As soon as the water stops flowing, working, and doing something, all sorts of vermin and hideous creatures develop in it. The pool becomes sluggish and unhealthy, giving off foul air and repulsive odors. In the same way, only work can keep a person healthy, wholesome, and clean. An idle mind very quickly breeds impurities.

The married man quickly learns that his domestic happiness depends upon what he himself contributes to the partnership, that he can not take out a great deal without putting a great deal in, for selfishness always reaps a mean, despicable harvest. It is only the generous giver who gets much. There is nothing which will so shrivel up a man; and contract his capacity for happiness as selfishness. It is always a fatal blighter, blaster, disappointer. We must give to get, we must be great before we can get great enjoyment; great in our motive, grand in our endeavor, sublime in our ideas.

A married man quickly learns that his happiness at home depends on what he contributes to the partnership. He cannot take much out without putting much in, because selfishness always yields a mean, contemptible harvest. Only a generous giver receives much. Nothing shrivels a man and shrinks his capacity for happiness like selfishness. It always destroys, ruins, and disappoints. We must give to receive. We must be great before we can enjoy life greatly: great in our motives, noble in our efforts, and inspired in our ideas.

It is impossible, absolutely unscientific, for a bad person to be truly happy; just as impossible as it would be for one to be comfortable while lying on a bed of nettles which are constantly pricking him. There is no way under heaven by which a person can be really happy without being good, clean, square, and true. This does not mean that a person is happy because he does not use tobacco, drink, gamble, use profane language or does not do other vicious things. Some of the meanest, narrowest, most contemptible people in the world do none of these things but they are uncharitable, jealous, envious, revengeful. They stab you in the back, slander you, cheat you. They may be cunning, underhanded, and yet have a fairly good standing in the church. No person can be really happy who has a small, narrow, bigoted, uncharitable mind or disposition. Generosity, charity, kindness are absolutely essential to real happiness. Deceitful people can not be happy; they can not respect themselves because they inwardly despise themselves for deceiving you. A person must be open minded, transparent, simple, in order to be really happy. A person who is always covering up something, trying to keep things from you, misleading you, deceiving you, can not get away from self-reproach, and hence can not be really happy.

It is impossible, absolutely unscientific, for a bad person to be truly happy. It is just as impossible as being comfortable while lying on a bed of nettles that constantly prick you. There is no way under heaven to be truly happy without being good, clean, fair, and honest. This does not mean that avoiding tobacco, drinking, gambling, profanity, or other bad habits makes a person happy. Some of the meanest, narrowest, most contemptible people in the world do none of these things. Yet they are uncharitable, jealous, envious, and vengeful. They stab you in the back, slander you, and cheat you. They may be cunning and underhanded and still have a fairly good standing in the church. No one can be truly happy with a small, narrow, bigoted, or uncharitable mind or disposition. Generosity, charity, and kindness are absolutely essential to real happiness. Deceitful people cannot be happy. They cannot respect themselves because, deep down, they despise themselves for deceiving you. To be truly happy, a person must be open-minded, transparent, and simple. A person who is always covering something up, hiding things, misleading you, and deceiving you cannot escape self-reproach. For that reason, such a person cannot be truly happy.

Selfishness is a fatal enemy of happiness because no one ever does a really selfish thing without feeling really mean, without despising himself for it. I have never seen a strong young man sneak into a vacant seat in a car and allow an old man or woman with a package or a baby in her arms to stand, without looking as though he knew he had done a mean, selfish thing. There is a look of humiliation in his face. We are so constituted that we can not help condemning ourselves for our mean or selfish acts.

Selfishness is a deadly enemy of happiness. No one ever does something truly selfish without feeling mean and despising themselves for it. I have seen strong young men sneak into empty seats on a streetcar. They let an old man or woman stand, even one carrying a package or a baby. Every one of them looked as if he knew he had done something mean and selfish. His face showed humiliation. We are made in such a way that we cannot help condemning ourselves for our mean or selfish acts.

The liar is never really happy. He is always on nettles lest his deceit betray him. He never feels safe. Dishonesty in all its phases is fatal to happiness, for no dishonest person can get his self-approval. Without this no happiness is possible.

A liar is never truly happy. He is always anxious that his lies will be exposed. He never feels safe. Dishonesty in any form destroys happiness, because no dishonest person can approve of himself. Without self-approval, happiness is impossible.

Before you can be really happy, my friend, you must be able to look back upon a well-spent past, a conscientious, unselfish past. If not, you will be haunted by demons which will destroy your happiness. If you have been mean and selfish, greedy and dishonest with your fellowmen, all sorts of horrible things will rise out of your money pile to terrify and to make your happiness impossible.

Before you can be truly happy, my friend, you must be able to look back on a life spent well, conscientiously and unselfishly. Otherwise, demons will haunt you and destroy your happiness. If you have been cruel and selfish, greedy and dishonest with others, all sorts of horrible things will rise from your pile of money. They will terrify you and make happiness impossible.

In other words, happiness is merely a result of the life work. It will partake of the exact quality of the motive which you have put into your life work. If these motives have been selfish, greedy, grasping, if cunning and dishonesty have dominated in your career, your happiness will be marred accordingly.

In other words, happiness is simply the result of your life's work. Its quality will reflect the motives you bring to that work. If your motives have been selfish, greedy, and grasping, your happiness will suffer accordingly. The same is true if cunning and dishonesty have dominated your career.

You can not complain of your happiness, because it is your own child, the product of your own brain, your own effort. It has been made up of your motives, colored by your life aim. It exactly corresponds to the cause which produced it.

You cannot complain about your happiness, because it is your own creation, the product of your own mind and effort. It is shaped by your motives and influenced by your aim in life. It exactly matches the cause that produced it.

There is the greatest difference in the world between the happiness which comes from a sweet, beautiful, unselfish, helpful, sympathetic, industrious, honorable career, and the mean satisfaction which may grow to be a part of your marked self if you have lived a selfish, grasping life.

There is a world of difference between two kinds of happiness. One comes from a life that is kind, beautiful, unselfish, helpful, compassionate, hardworking, and honorable. The other is the petty satisfaction that may become part of who you are if you live a selfish, grasping life.

What we call happiness is the harvest from our life sowing, our habitual thought-sowing, deed-doing. If we have sown selfish, envious, jealous, revengeful, hateful seeds, greedy, grasping seeds, we can not expect a golden happiness harvest like that which comes from a clean and unselfish, helpful sowing.

What we call happiness is the harvest of what we sow in life, through our habitual thoughts and actions. If we sow selfish, envious, jealous, vengeful, hateful, greedy, and grasping seeds, we cannot expect a golden harvest of happiness. That harvest comes from sowing seeds that are pure, unselfish, and helpful.

If our harvest is full of the rank, poisonous weeds of jealousy, envy, dishonesty, cunning, and cruelty, we have no one to blame but ourselves, for we sowed the seed which produced that sort of a harvest.

If our harvest is full of the poisonous weeds of jealousy, envy, dishonesty, cunning, and cruelty, we can blame only ourselves. For we planted the seeds that produced such a harvest.

Somehow some people have an entirely wrong idea of what real happiness is. They seem to think it can be bought, can be had by influence, that it can be purchased by money; that if they have money they can get that wonderful, mysterious thing which they call happiness.

Somehow, some people have a completely wrong idea of what real happiness is. They seem to think they can buy happiness or obtain it through influence. They think that if they have money, they can get that wonderful, mysterious thing they call happiness.

But happiness is a natural, faithful harvest from our sowing. It would be as impossible for selfish seed, greed seed to produce a harvest of contentment, of genuine satisfaction, of real joy, as for thistle seeds to produce a harvest of wheat or corn.

But happiness is the natural, faithful harvest of what we sow. Seeds of selfishness and greed cannot produce contentment, genuine satisfaction, or real joy. That would be as impossible as thistle seeds producing a harvest of wheat or corn.

Whatever the quality of your enjoyment or happiness may be, you have patterned it by your life motive by the spirit in which you have worked, by the principles which have actuated you.

Whatever the quality of your enjoyment or happiness, you have shaped it through your purpose in life, the spirit in which you have worked, and the principles that have guided you.

A pretty different harvest, I grant, many of us must face, marred with all sorts of hideous, poisonous weeds, but they are all the legitimate product of our sowing. No one can rob us of our harvest or change it very much. Every thought, every act, every motive, whether secret or public, is a seed which no power on earth can prevent going to its harvest of beauty or ugliness, honor or shame. Most people have an idea that happiness is something that can be manufactured. They do not realize that it can no more be manufactured than wheat or corn can be manufactured. It must be grown, and the harvest will be like the seed.

I admit that many of us face a very different harvest, spoiled by all kinds of ugly, poisonous weeds. But all those weeds are the natural result of what we have sown. No one can rob us of our harvest or change it very much. Every thought, act, and motive, whether secret or public, is a seed. No power on earth can prevent that seed from yielding a harvest of beauty or ugliness, honor or shame. Most people think happiness is something that can be manufactured. They do not realize that happiness can no more be manufactured than wheat or corn can. It must be grown, and the harvest will be like the seed.

You, young man, make up your mind at the very outset of your career that whatever comes to you in life, that whether you succeed or fail, whether you have this or that, there is one thing you will have, and that is a happy, contented mind, that you will extract your happiness as you go along. You will not take the chances of picking up or developing the happy habit after you get rich, for then you may be too old.

Young man, decide at the very start of your career that whatever life brings, you will have a happy, contented mind. Whether you succeed or fail, or have one thing or another, find happiness along the way. Do not wait until you are rich to try to find or develop the habit of happiness. By then, you may be too old.

Most people postpone their enjoyment until they are disappointed to find the power of enjoyment has largely gone by and that even if they had the means they could not get anything like as much real happiness out of it as they could have gotten as they went along when they were younger. Take no chances with your happiness, or the sort of a life that can produce it; whatever else you risk, do not risk this. Early form the happy habit, the habit of enjoyment every day, no matter what comes or does not come to you during the day. Pick crumbs of comfort out of your situation, no matter how unpleasant or disagreeable.

Most people put off enjoying life until they discover, to their disappointment, that they have largely lost the ability to enjoy it. Even if they had the means, they could not gain nearly as much happiness from them as they could have enjoyed along the way when they were younger. Take no chances with your happiness or with living the kind of life that can produce it. Whatever else you risk, do not risk this. Start early to build the habit of being happy and enjoying each day, no matter what the day brings or fails to bring. Find small comforts in your situation, no matter how unpleasant or disagreeable it may be.

I know a man who, although poor, can manage to get more comfort out of a real tough, discouraging situation than any one else I have ever seen. I have often seen him when he did not have a dollar to his name, with a wife to support; yet he was always buoyant, happy, cheerful, consented. He would even make fun out of an embarrassing situation, see something ludicrous in his extreme poverty.

I know a poor man who can find more comfort in a really tough, discouraging situation than anyone else I’ve ever seen. I’ve often seen him without a dollar to his name, even with a wife to support. Yet he was always upbeat, happy, cheerful, and content. He would even make fun of an embarrassing situation and see something funny in his extreme poverty.

There have never been such conflicting estimates, such varying ideas, regarding any state of human condition as to what constitutes happiness. Many people think that it is purchasable with money, but many of the most restless, discontented, unhappy people in the world are rich. They have the means of purchasing what they thought would produce happiness, but the real thing eludes them. On the other hand, some of the poorest people in the world are happy. The fact is that there is no possible way of cornering or purchasing happiness for it is absolutely beyond the reach of money. It is true, we can purchase a few comforts and immunities from some annoyances and worries with money which we can not get without it. On the other hand, the great majority of people who have inherited money are positively injured by it, because it often stops their own development by taking away the motive for self-effort and self-reliance.

There have never been such conflicting opinions about any human condition as there are about what makes people happy. Many people think happiness can be bought with money. Yet many of the richest people in the world are restless, dissatisfied, and unhappy. They can afford what they thought would make them happy, but true happiness escapes them. On the other hand, some of the poorest people in the world are happy. The fact is, there is no way to gain exclusive control of happiness or buy it. Happiness is completely beyond the reach of money. It is true that money can buy some comforts and freedom from some annoyances and worries. We cannot get these without money. On the other hand, the vast majority of people who inherit money are actually harmed by it. Inherited money often stops their development by taking away their reason to rely on themselves and make their own efforts.

When people get money they often stop growing because they depend upon the money instead of relying upon their own inherent resources.

When people get money, they often stop growing because they rely on it instead of their own abilities.

Rich people suffer from their indulgences more than poor ones suffer from their hardships.

Rich people suffer more from their indulgences than poor people suffer from their hardships.

A great many rich people die with liver and kidney troubles which are effected both by eating and drinking. The kidneys are very susceptible to the presence of alcohol. If rich people try to get greater enjoyment out of life than poor people by eating and drinking, they are likely very quickly to come to grief. If they try to seek it through the avenue of leisure they soon find that an idle brain is one of the most dangerous things in the world—nothing deteriorates faster. The mind was made for continual strong action, systematic, vigorous exercise, and this is possible only when some dominating aim and a great life purpose leads the way.

Many rich people die with liver and kidney problems caused by eating and drinking. The kidneys are especially sensitive to alcohol. If rich people try to enjoy life more than poor people by eating and drinking, they are likely to suffer for it very quickly. If they try to find greater enjoyment through leisure, they soon discover that an idle brain is among the most dangerous things in the world. Nothing deteriorates faster. The mind was made for constant, vigorous activity and regular, vigorous exercise. This is possible only when a driving ambition and a great purpose in life lead the way.

No person can be really healthful whose mind is not usefully and continually employed. So there is no possibility of finding real happiness in idleness if we are able to work. Nature brings a wonderful compensatory power to those who are crippled or sick or otherwise disabled from working, but there is no compensation for idleness in those who are able to work. Nature only gives us the use of faculties we employ. "Use or lose" is her motto, and when we cease to use a faculty or function it is gradually taken away from us, gradually shrivels and atrophies.

No one can be truly healthy unless their mind is continually engaged in useful activity. So, if we are able to work, we cannot find real happiness in idleness. Nature offers a wonderful power of compensation to those who cannot work because of illness, injury, or another disability. But nature offers no compensation for idleness to those who can work. Nature lets us keep only the abilities we use. "Use or lose" is her motto. When we stop using an ability or function, it gradually shrivels, wastes away, and is lost.

There is no satisfaction like that which comes from the steady, persistent, honest, conscientious pursuit of a noble aim. There are a multitude of evidences in man's very structure that his marvelous mechanism was intended for action, for constant exercise, and that idleness and stagnation always mean deterioration and death of power. No man can remain idle without shrinking, shrivelling, constantly becoming a less efficient man; for he can keep up only those faculties and powers which he constantly employs, and there is no other possible way. Nature puts her ban of deterioration and loss of power upon idleness. We see these victims everywhere shorn of power—weak, nerveless, backboneless, staminaless, gritless people, without forcefulness, mere nonentities because they have ceased working. Without work mental health is impossible and without health the fullest happiness is impossible.

No satisfaction compares with that of steadily and honestly pursuing a noble aim with persistence and care. The human body itself shows in countless ways that its marvelous machinery was meant for action and constant exercise. Idleness and stagnation always lead to deterioration and loss of power. No one can remain idle without shrinking, shriveling, and steadily becoming less capable. We can maintain only the abilities and powers we use constantly. There is no other way. Nature punishes idleness with deterioration and loss of power. We see its victims everywhere, stripped of power. They are weak, listless people without backbone, stamina, grit, or force. They are mere nobodies because they have stopped working. Without work, mental health is impossible, and without health, the fullest happiness is impossible.

It has been said that happiness is the most delusive thing that man pursues. Yet why need it be a blind search?

People have said that happiness is the most elusive thing we pursue. But why must we search for it blindly?

If we were to stop the first hundred people we meet on the street and ask them what in their experience has given them the most happiness, probably the answer of no two would be alike.

If we stopped the first hundred people we met on the street and asked what had given them the most happiness, probably no two answers would be alike.

How interesting and instructive it would be to give a thousand dollars to each of these hundred people, and without their knowing it, follow them and see what they would do with the money,—what it would mean to them.

How interesting and instructive it would be to give each of these hundred people a thousand dollars. We could then follow them without their knowing and see what they did with the money and what it meant to them.

To some poor youth hungry for an education, with no opportunity to gain it, this money would mean a college education. Another would see in his money a more comfortable home for his aged parents. To another this money would suggest all sorts of dissipation. Some would see books and leisure for self-improvement, a trip abroad.

To a poor young person eager for an education but unable to get one, this money would mean a college education. Another would see a more comfortable home for his elderly parents. To another, the money would suggest all kinds of reckless pleasure. Some would see books and leisure for self-improvement, or a trip abroad.

We all wear different colored glasses and no two see life with the same tint.

We all wear different colored glasses, and no two people see life in the same light.

Some find their present happiness in coarse dissipation; others in a quiet nook with a book. Some find their greatest happiness in friends, in social intercourse; others seek happiness in roving over the earth, always thinking that the greatest enjoyment is in another day, in another place, a little further on, in the next room, or to-morrow, or in another country.

Some find happiness in crude indulgence. Others find it in a quiet corner with a book. Some are happiest with friends and social gatherings. Others seek happiness by traveling the world. They always think the greatest enjoyment lies ahead, in another place, a little farther on. It is in the next room, or tomorrow, or in another country.

To many people, happiness is never where they are, but almost anywhere else.

For many people, happiness is never where they are, but almost anywhere else.

Most people lose sight of the simplicity of happiness. They look for it in big, complicated things. Real happiness is perfectly simple. In fact, it is incompatible with complexity. Simplicity is its very essence.

Most people lose sight of how simple happiness is. They look for it in big, complicated things. Real happiness is completely simple. In fact, happiness cannot exist alongside complexity. Simplicity is its very essence.

I was dining recently with a particularly successful young man who is trying very hard to be happy, but he takes such a complicated, strenuous view of everything that his happiness is always flying from him. He drives everything so fiercely, his life is so vigorous, so complicated, that happiness can not find a home with him very long. Nor does he understand why. He has money, health; but he always has that restless far-away, absent-minded gaze into something beyond, and I do not think he is ever really very happy. His whole manner of living is extremely complex. He does not seem to know where to find happiness. He has evidently mistaken the very nature of happiness. He thinks it consists in making a great show, in having great possessions, in doing things which attract a great deal of attention; but happiness would be strangled, suffocated in such an environment. The essentials of real happiness are few, simple, and close at hand.

I recently had dinner with a very successful young man who is trying hard to be happy. But he takes such a complicated, demanding view of everything that happiness always escapes him. He pushes so hard, and his life is so intense and complicated, that happiness cannot stay with him for long. He does not understand why. He has money and health. But he always has a restless, faraway look, as if his mind were somewhere else. I do not think he is ever really very happy. His whole way of life is extremely complicated. He does not seem to know where to find happiness. He has clearly misunderstood the nature of happiness. He thinks it comes from making a great show, owning many things, and doing things that attract a lot of attention. But happiness would be strangled, suffocated in such surroundings. The essentials of real happiness are few, simple, and close at hand.

Happiness is made up of very simple ingredients. It flees from the complex life. It evades pomp and show. The heart would starve amid the greatest luxuries.

Happiness is made up of very simple things. It flees from a complicated life. It avoids pomp and show. The heart would starve even amid the greatest luxuries.

Simple joys and the treasures of the heart and mind make happiness.

Simple joys and the treasures of the heart and mind bring happiness.

Happiness has very little to do with material things. It is a mental state of mind. Real permanent happiness can not be found in mere temporary things, because its roots reach away down into eternal principles.

Happiness has very little to do with material things. It is a state of mind. Real, lasting happiness cannot be found in temporary things, because its roots reach deep into eternal principles.

One of the most pathetic pictures in civilization is the great army of men and women searching the world over for happiness, as though it existed in things rather than in a state of mind.

One of the saddest sights in civilization is the great army of men and women searching the world for happiness. They search as if happiness existed in things rather than in a state of mind.

The people who have spent years and a fortune trying to find it look as hungry and as lean of contentment and all that makes life desirable as when they started out. Chasing happiness all over the world is about as silly a business as any human being ever engaged in, for it was never yet found by any pursuer. Yet happiness is the simplest thing in the world. It is found in many a home with carpetless floors and pictureless walls. It knows neither rank, station, nor color, nor does it recognize wealth. It only demands that it live with a contented mind and pure heart. It will not live with ostentation; it flees from pretense; it loves the simple life; it insists upon a sweet, healthful, natural environment. It hates the forced and complicated and formal.

People who have spent years and a fortune trying to find happiness look as hungry and as lacking in contentment and everything else that makes life desirable as when they started. Chasing happiness all over the world is one of the silliest things anyone can do. No one has ever found it by chasing it. Yet happiness is the simplest thing in the world. It is found in many a home with bare floors and walls. It knows no rank, social position, or color, and it pays no attention to wealth. It asks only to live with a contented mind and a pure heart. It will not live with showiness. It flees from pretense and loves the simple life. It insists on a pleasant, healthy, natural environment. It hates what is forced, complicated, and formal.

Real happiness flees from the things that pass away; it abides only in principle, permanency.

Real happiness turns away from things that fade. It lasts only in what is principled and permanent.

I have never seen a person who has lived a grasping, greedy, money-chasing life, who was not disappointed at what money has given him for his trouble.

Everyone I have seen live a greedy life chasing money has been disappointed by what money gave them in return.

It is only in giving, in helping, that we find our quest. Everywhere we go we see people who are disappointed, chagrined, shocked, to find that what they thought would be the angel of happiness turned out to be only a ghost.

Only by giving and helping do we find what we seek. Everywhere we go, we see people who are disappointed, frustrated, and shocked. What they thought would be the angel of happiness turned out to be only a ghost.

All the misery and the crime of the world rest upon the failure of human beings to understand the principle that no man can really be happy until he harmonizes with the best thing in him, with the divine, and not with the brute. No one can be happy who tries to harmonize his life with his animal instincts. The God (the good) in him is the only possible thing that can make him happy.

All the misery and crime in the world come from people failing to understand one principle. No one can truly be happy until they live in harmony with the best part of themselves, the divine rather than the animal. No one can be happy trying to live by their animal instincts. The God (the good) within them is the only thing that can make them happy.

Real happiness can not be bribed by anything sordid or low. Nothing mean or unworthy appeals to it. There is no affinity between them. Founded upon principle, it is as scientific as the laws of mathematics, and he who works his problem correctly will get the happiness answer.

Real happiness cannot be bought with anything corrupt or low. Nothing mean or unworthy appeals to it. Happiness has nothing in common with such things. It is based on principle, as surely as the laws of mathematics are. Anyone who works the problem correctly will arrive at happiness.

There is only one way to secure the correct answer to a mathematical problem; and that is to work in harmony with mathematical laws. It would not matter if half the world believed there was some other way to get the answer, it would never come until the law was followed with the utmost exactitude.

There is only one way to get the correct answer to a math problem: follow the laws of mathematics. Even if half the world believed there was another way, the answer would never come without following those laws exactly.

It does not matter that the great majority of the human race believe there is some other way of reaching the happiness goal. The fact that they are discontented, restless, and unhappy shows that they are not working their problem scientifically.

It does not matter that most people believe there is another way to find happiness. Their discontent, restlessness, and unhappiness show that they are not approaching the problem scientifically.

We are all conscious that there is another man inside of us, that there accompanies us through life a divine, silent messenger, that other, higher, better self, which speaks from the depths of our nature and which gives its consent, its "amen" to every right action, and condemns every wrong one.

We are all aware that another person lives inside us. A divine, silent messenger accompanies us through life. This is our other, higher, better self. It speaks from the depths of our nature, giving its consent, its "amen," to every right action and condemning every wrong one.

Man is built upon the plan of honesty, of rectitude—the divine plan. When he perverts his nature by trying to express dishonesty, chicanery, and cunning, of course he can not be happy.

Man is made for honesty and moral uprightness. This is the divine plan. When he twists his nature by trying to be dishonest, deceptive, and cunning, he cannot be happy.

The very essence of happiness is honesty, sincerity, truthfulness. He who would have real happiness for his companion must be clean, straightforward, and sincere. The moment he departs from the right she will take wings and fly away.

Honesty, sincerity, and truthfulness are the very essence of happiness. Anyone who wants lasting happiness must be honest, straightforward, and sincere. The moment they stray from what is right, happiness will take flight.

It is just as impossible for a person to reach the normal state of harmony while he is practising selfish, grasping methods, as it is to produce harmony in an orchestra with instruments that are all jangled and out of tune. To be happy, we must be in tune with the infinite within us, in harmony with our better selves. There is no way to get around it.

A person cannot reach a normal state of harmony while acting selfishly and greedily. That is just as impossible as creating harmony in an orchestra whose instruments are all jangled and out of tune. To be happy, we must be in tune with the infinite within us and in harmony with our better selves. There is no way around it.

There is no tonic like that which comes from doing things worth while. There is no happiness like that which comes from doing our level best every day, everywhere; no satisfaction like that which comes from stamping superiority, putting our royal trade-mark upon everything which goes through our hands.

Nothing is more energizing than doing worthwhile things. Nothing brings more happiness than doing our very best every day, everywhere. Nothing is more satisfying than putting our royal trademark of excellence on everything that passes through our hands.

Recently a rich young man was asked why he did not work. "I do not have to," he said. "Do not have to" has ruined more young men than almost anything else. The fact is, Nature never made any provision for the idle man. Vigorous activity is the law of life; it is the saving grace, the only thing that can keep a human being from retrograding. Activity along the line of one's highest ambition is the normal state of man, and he who tries to evade it pays the penalty in deterioration of faculty, in paralysis of efficiency. Do not flatter yourself that you can be really happy unless you are useful. Happiness and usefulness were born twins. To separate them is fatal.

Recently, a rich young man was asked why he did not work. "I do not have to," he said. "Do not have to" has ruined more young men than almost anything else. The fact is, Nature never made any provision for an idle man. Vigorous activity is the law of life. It is what saves us, the only thing that can keep a human being from declining. Working toward one's highest ambition is the normal state of human beings. Anyone who tries to avoid that work pays the price. Their abilities deteriorate and their effectiveness is paralyzed. Do not fool yourself into thinking you can be truly happy unless you are useful. Happiness and usefulness were born twins. Separating them is fatal.

It is as impossible for a human being to be happy who is habitually idle as it is for a fine chronometer to be normal when not running. The highest happiness is the feeling of wellbeing which comes to one who is actively employed doing what he was made to do, carrying out the great life-purpose patterned in his individual bent. The practical fulfilling of the life-purpose is to man what the actual running and keeping time are to the watch. Without action both are meaningless.

A person who is habitually idle cannot be happy, just as a fine watch cannot function normally when it is not running. The greatest happiness is the sense of well-being that comes from actively doing what one was made to do. It comes from fulfilling the great purpose shaped by one's individual talents. Putting that purpose into action is to a person what running and keeping time are to a watch. Without action, both are meaningless.

Man was made to do things. Nothing else can take the place of achievement in his life. Real happiness without achievement of some worthy aim is unthinkable. One of the greatest satisfactions in this world is the feeling of enlargement, of growth, of stretching upward and onward. No pleasure can surpass that which comes from the consciousness of feeling one's horizon of ignorance being pushed farther and farther away—of making headway in the world—of not only getting on, but also of getting up.

People were made to do things. Nothing else can take the place of achievement in their lives. Real happiness is unthinkable without achieving some worthy goal. One of life’s greatest satisfactions is the feeling of expanding, growing, and reaching upward and onward. No pleasure can surpass the feeling that the horizon of your ignorance is moving farther and farther away. It is the pleasure of making progress in the world, not just getting ahead but rising higher.

Happiness is incompatible with stagnation. A man must feel his expanding power lifting, tugging away at a lofty purpose, or he will miss the joy of living.

Happiness is impossible without growth. A man must feel his growing power driving him toward a great purpose, or he will miss the joy of living.

The discords, the bickerings, the divorces, the breaking up of rich homes, and the resorting to all sorts of silly devices by many rich people in their pursuit of happiness, prove that it does not dwell with them, that happiness does not abide with low ideals, with selfishness, idleness, and discord. It is a friend of harmony, of truth, of beauty, of affection, of simplicity.

The quarrels, bickering, divorces, and breakups of wealthy homes show that happiness does not dwell with the rich. So do the silly schemes many wealthy people turn to in their pursuit of happiness. These things prove that happiness does not dwell with low ideals, selfishness, idleness, and conflict. Happiness is a friend of harmony, truth, beauty, affection, and simplicity.

Multitudes of men have made fortunes, but have murdered their capacity for enjoyment in the process. How often we hear the remark, "He has the money, but can not enjoy it."

Many men have made fortunes but destroyed their ability to enjoy them in the process. How often we hear, "He has the money, but he can't enjoy it."

A man can have no greater delusion than that he can spend the best years of his life coining all of his energies into dollars, neglecting his home, sacrificing friendships, self-improvement, and everything else that is really worth while, for money, and yet find happiness at the end!

A man can have no greater delusion than believing he can spend the best years of his life turning all his energy into money and still find happiness in the end. In pursuit of money, he neglects his home and sacrifices friendships, self-improvement, and everything else truly worthwhile!

The happiness habit is just as necessary to our best welfare as the work habit, or the honesty or square-dealing habit.

The habit of being happy is just as important to our well-being as the habits of working, being honest, and treating others fairly.

No one can do his best, his highest thing, who is not perfectly normal, and happiness is a fundamental necessity of our being. It is an indication of health, of sanity, of harmony. The opposite is a symptom of disease, of abnormality.

No one can do their best or highest work unless they are perfectly normal. Happiness is a fundamental human need. It is a sign of health, sanity, and harmony. Unhappiness is a symptom of disease and abnormality.

There are plenty of evidences in the human economy that we were intended for happiness, that it is our normal condition; that suffering, unhappiness, discontent, are absolutely foreign and abnormal to our natures.

There is plenty of evidence in human nature that we were meant to be happy and that happiness is our normal state. Suffering, unhappiness, and discontent are entirely foreign and abnormal to our nature.

There is no doubt that our life was intended to be one grand, sweet song. We are built upon the plan of harmony, and every form of discord is abnormal.

There is no doubt that our lives were meant to be one grand, sweet song. We are made for harmony, and every form of discord is abnormal.

There is something wrong when any human being in this world, tuned to infinite harmonies and beauties that are unspeakable, is unhappy and discontented.

Something is wrong when any person in this world is unhappy and dissatisfied. Every person is attuned to infinite harmonies and indescribable beauty.