THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS 



thusiast whatever else you are ; but put your enthusiasm 

 to the test of common sense. Be sure you are right be- 

 fore you go ahead too persistently. If your effort is 

 one that can find a practical test, apply that test; and 

 do not be afraid to change if you find that you are wrong. 

 The most successful business man I know admits that 

 he makes more mistakes than most of his fellows; but he 

 recovers from his mistakes and gets on the right track in 

 time to surpass his less enthusiastic competitors. He 

 could never do that were he not an optimist and an 

 enthusiast. 



But note also that his enthusiasm is tempered by 

 that saving grace of common sense, else he could not 

 recognise his mistakes and retrace his false steps. 

 Without that saving grace, self confidence guided by 

 enthusiasm would lead more likely to visionary fanat- 

 icism than to practical goals. Beware that ignis 

 fatuus. The task of the reformer is a noble one, but 

 make sure that your reforms are valid. 



"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of 

 the tree of evil," says Thoreau, " where one strikes at 

 the root." 



Make sure that you not only strike at the root, but 

 that your tree of evil is an actuality and not the mango 

 tree of a conjuror. Remember, as a general proposi- 

 tion, that if you oppose the conventional ideas of society 

 you are probably wrong; for these ideas are the slow 

 growth of the centuries. Yet it is always possible that 

 you are right; but before you can feel sure you must 

 study the past ; you must learn what others have thought 

 and said on the same subject. 



