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Literary
August 30, 1805
Berkeley And Jefferson Intelligencer
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia
What is this article about?
This essay from the Charleston Courier explores true happiness as residing in a guilt-free conscience and a disposition to enjoy life's pleasures while enduring its inevitable evils, accessible to rich and poor alike through moral conduct and reconciliation with one's conscience.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Charleston Courier.
HAPPINESS
When we look around us and see the variety of pursuits that engage the attention of mankind we are led to ask the question To what does true happiness consist. The answer readily presents itself to every reflecting mind : it consists in a mind void of guilt or free from any intentional errors, and a disposition to enjoy the good things of life. and to bear with fortitude the evils inseparable from it. Shew me the man that possesses this disposition, and you shew me a happy man, Whether he be possessed of thousands or earns his daily bread by the sweat of his brow.
The Almighty Disposer of Events has so mixed the ingredients in the cup of life that no one is exempted by his riches from the evils of it and no one is prevented by his poverty from partaking of some of its pleasures.
The question then for every man to ask himself, shall I be happy ? If his conduct has been such as he can reconcile to his own conscience the answer will be in the affirmative ; if the answer should be in the negative he still has it in his power by a line of conduct the reverse of what he has practised, to atone, in a degree, for past errors, and is entitled as his conduct merits it, at least to the Civility of his fellow-citizens.
HAPPINESS
When we look around us and see the variety of pursuits that engage the attention of mankind we are led to ask the question To what does true happiness consist. The answer readily presents itself to every reflecting mind : it consists in a mind void of guilt or free from any intentional errors, and a disposition to enjoy the good things of life. and to bear with fortitude the evils inseparable from it. Shew me the man that possesses this disposition, and you shew me a happy man, Whether he be possessed of thousands or earns his daily bread by the sweat of his brow.
The Almighty Disposer of Events has so mixed the ingredients in the cup of life that no one is exempted by his riches from the evils of it and no one is prevented by his poverty from partaking of some of its pleasures.
The question then for every man to ask himself, shall I be happy ? If his conduct has been such as he can reconcile to his own conscience the answer will be in the affirmative ; if the answer should be in the negative he still has it in his power by a line of conduct the reverse of what he has practised, to atone, in a degree, for past errors, and is entitled as his conduct merits it, at least to the Civility of his fellow-citizens.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Happiness
Conscience
Moral Conduct
Riches Poverty
Life Evils
Literary Details
Title
Happiness
Subject
On The Nature Of True Happiness
Key Lines
It Consists In A Mind Void Of Guilt Or Free From Any Intentional Errors, And A Disposition To Enjoy The Good Things Of Life. And To Bear With Fortitude The Evils Inseparable From It.
Shew Me The Man That Possesses This Disposition, And You Shew Me A Happy Man, Whether He Be Possessed Of Thousands Or Earns His Daily Bread By The Sweat Of His Brow.
The Almighty Disposer Of Events Has So Mixed The Ingredients In The Cup Of Life That No One Is Exempted By His Riches From The Evils Of It And No One Is Prevented By His Poverty From Partaking Of Some Of Its Pleasures.