Men's Business in the World
             Men's business in this world falls mainly into three divisions:
             First to know themselves, and the existing state of the things they have to do with.
             Secondly to be happy in themselves, and in the existing state of the things.
             Thirdly to mend themselves and the existing state of the things as far as either are marred and mendable.
             These are the three plain divisions of proper human business on this earth. For these three the the following are usually substituted and adopted by human creatures:
             First, to be totally ignorant of themselves and the existing state of things.
             Secondly, to be miserable in themselves and in the existing state of things.
             Thirdly to let themselves and the existing state of things, alone (at least in the way of correction).
             The dispositions which induces us to manage, thus wisely, the affairs of this life seem to be:
             First, a fear of disagreeable facts, and conscious shrinking from clearness of light, which keep us from examining ourselves, and increase gradually into a species of instinctive terror at all truth, and love of glosses, veils, and decorative lies of every sort.
             Secondly, a general readiness to take delight in anything past, future, far off, or somewhere else, rather than in things now, near and here; leading us gradually to place our pleasure principally in the exercise of the imagination, and to build all our satisfaction on things as they are not. Which power being one not accorded to the lower animals, and having indeed, when diisciplined, a very noble use, we pride ourselves upon it, whether disciplined or not, and pass our lives complacently, in substantial discontent, and visionary satisfaction.
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