On Happiness
佚名 / Anonymous
I have never been basically pessimistic， although I have appeared so to some readers.
I have taken life so seriously as to be disposed to optimism.
Pessimism is a waste of force—the penalty of one who doesn’t know how to live.
Happiness is in action， and every power is intended for action.
I have always found that it’s more painful to do nothing than something.
Of all the virtues， cheerfulness and enthusiasm are the most profitable.
Enthusiasm flourishes more often in adversity than it does in prosperity.
Contentment grows out of an inward superiority to our surroundings.
We fall into the mistake of supposing that to look forward must mean to look anxiously forward. It is just as easy to look forward with hope as with sadness.
The source of nearly all the evil and unhappiness of this world is selfishness. We know it； but we still keep on being selfish.
Fame without happiness is but a sorry at best.
雖然有時我給讀者一種悲觀的錯覺，但我從來不是一個本質悲觀的人。
我更傾向於樂觀，因為我非常嚴肅地看待生命。
悲觀是浪費精力的情緒——是用以懲罰那些不知如何生活之人的。
行動才有幸福，每一股力量都是為了行動。
我始終覺得，無所事事比努力工作要痛苦得多。
快樂和熱情是所有美德中最寶貴的。
逆境比順境更能激發熱情。
滿足源於對周圍環境的一種內在優越感。
我們常誤認為展望未來意味著對未來的憂慮。滿懷憧憬與愁眉緊鎖一樣容易。
幾乎世上所有的罪惡和不幸都源於自私。我們很清楚這點，卻仍執迷不悟地自私。
不能帶來快樂的榮譽隻能是一種遺憾。
1. Pessimism is a of force—the penalty of one who doesn’t know how to .
Happiness is in ， and every power is intended for action.