Chapter I: Foreword

On my Fiftieth Birthday (Sunday, September 22, 1918), after a good day’s work, I start, in the afternoon, to spend the few hours before our evening meal in writing down some ideas that may help others (besides myself, who need them as much as anyone, since I am beginning my second half-century), to indulge less in that habit of fear, worry, resentment, and hurry, which must be regarded as a form of suicide, slow indeed, but working in a vicious circle and with self-increasing force, and poisoning and paralysing others besides the respectable offenders themselves.

The chief remedy is--keep happy.

We have had our attention so fixed on prohibitions--the “Thou shalt not” Commandments--that we have, as a Nation, ignored the positive commandments of the Old and New Testaments; among which a very frequently repeated one was “Rejoice” or “Keep Happy.” Others, besides the Master, told us not to worry, not to be afraid, not to be angry, not to be bitter; but to be glad and happy. The orthodox should remember that Happiness is a virtue, however unusual, and Non-Happiness a sin, however common and respectable.

I give one quotation alone--though the usual translation does not convey the real force of the Greek words of Philippians iv. 4-7:--

“_Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.... The Lord is at hand. Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God._”