THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS 249 



Without the one thing I have in mind, none of 

 these things would long help their possessors to he 

 happy. We could not long he happy without food 

 or drink or clothes or shelter, but we may have all 

 these things to perfection and still want the prime 

 condition of happiness. It is often said that a con- 

 tented mind is the first condition of happiness, but 

 what is the first condition of a contented mind ? 

 You will be disappointed when I tell you what this 

 all-important thing is, — it is so common, so near at 

 hand, and so many people have so much of it and 

 yet are not happy. They have too much of it, or 

 else the kind that is not best suited to them. What 

 is the best thing for a stream ? It is to keep mov- 

 ing. If it stops, it stagnates. So the best thing 

 for a man is that which keeps the currents going, — 

 the physical, the moral, and the intellectual currents. 

 Hence the secret of happiness is — something to do ; 

 some congenial work. Take away the occupation of 

 all men, and what a wretched world it would be ! 

 Half of it would commit suicide in less than ten 

 days. 



Few persons realize how much of their happiness, 

 such as it is, is dependent upon their work, upon 

 the fact that they are kept busy and not left to feed 

 upon themselves. Happiness comes most to persons 

 who seek her least, and think least about her. It 

 is not an object to be sought ; it is a state to be in- 

 duced. It must follow and not lead. It must over- 

 take you, and not you overtake it. How important 

 is health to happiness, yet the best promoter of 

 health is something to do. 



