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Literary
January 7, 1789
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
This philosophical essay argues that fortune's gifts like wealth, honors, power, health, and beauty cannot achieve true happiness, which demands virtue, sincere friendship, immunity to envy and calumny, and inner satisfaction. Passions mislead us into pursuing apparent rather than real goods.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Gifts of Fortune incapable of making us happy.
HOWEVER different they may be, they all tend to the same Point, viz. Happiness; I mean that supreme Good, which, if obtained, leaves us nothing more to desire, as it contains every Thing desirable; for, were it deficient in any Thing, and left a Wish to make, it could not be called a supreme Good, as it would not be perfect: and Perfection is the Essence of true Happiness. Now it is manifest, that Fortune cannot bestow this Good; for tho' she may heap Wealth upon us, load us with Honors and Titles, invest us with Power, allow us the Enjoyment of Health, Strength and Beauty, yet can she not bless us with a sincere Friend: true Friendship is the Produce of virtue; She cannot set us above the Strokes of Envy, and the reach of Calumny; neither can she bestow that calm, that inward Satisfaction, which spreads an Air of Joy and Peace over the Countenance of self-conscious Virtue.
The Gifts of Fortune cannot appease the Clamours of Conscience, and her greatest Favourite may, in the Enjoyment of Power and Affluence, amidst a Crowd of Followers, carry a Hell about him, and be more wretched than the meanest of his Dependants.
The Strength of our Passions makes us place Happiness where it is not to be found, in the Goods of Fortune; which is the Reason that we pursue as many different Courses, as we form different Ideas of the supreme Good; for we have, all of us, an innate Desire of that which is really good, tho' we are for the most Part in Pursuit of that which has only the Appearance of it, being led astray by the error of our Judgment.
HOWEVER different they may be, they all tend to the same Point, viz. Happiness; I mean that supreme Good, which, if obtained, leaves us nothing more to desire, as it contains every Thing desirable; for, were it deficient in any Thing, and left a Wish to make, it could not be called a supreme Good, as it would not be perfect: and Perfection is the Essence of true Happiness. Now it is manifest, that Fortune cannot bestow this Good; for tho' she may heap Wealth upon us, load us with Honors and Titles, invest us with Power, allow us the Enjoyment of Health, Strength and Beauty, yet can she not bless us with a sincere Friend: true Friendship is the Produce of virtue; She cannot set us above the Strokes of Envy, and the reach of Calumny; neither can she bestow that calm, that inward Satisfaction, which spreads an Air of Joy and Peace over the Countenance of self-conscious Virtue.
The Gifts of Fortune cannot appease the Clamours of Conscience, and her greatest Favourite may, in the Enjoyment of Power and Affluence, amidst a Crowd of Followers, carry a Hell about him, and be more wretched than the meanest of his Dependants.
The Strength of our Passions makes us place Happiness where it is not to be found, in the Goods of Fortune; which is the Reason that we pursue as many different Courses, as we form different Ideas of the supreme Good; for we have, all of us, an innate Desire of that which is really good, tho' we are for the most Part in Pursuit of that which has only the Appearance of it, being led astray by the error of our Judgment.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Fortune
Happiness
Virtue
Friendship
Conscience
Passions
Supreme Good
Literary Details
Title
The Gifts Of Fortune Incapable Of Making Us Happy.
Key Lines
However Different They May Be, They All Tend To The Same Point, Viz. Happiness; I Mean That Supreme Good, Which, If Obtained, Leaves Us Nothing More To Desire, As It Contains Every Thing Desirable;
Yet Can She Not Bless Us With A Sincere Friend: True Friendship Is The Produce Of Virtue;
The Gifts Of Fortune Cannot Appease The Clamours Of Conscience, And Her Greatest Favourite May, In The Enjoyment Of Power And Affluence, Amidst A Crowd Of Followers, Carry A Hell About Him,
The Strength Of Our Passions Makes Us Place Happiness Where It Is Not To Be Found, In The Goods Of Fortune;