On Happiness
佚名 / Anonymous
I have never been basically pessimistic， although I have appeared so to some readers.
I have taken life so seriously as to be disposed to optimism.
Pessimism is a waste of force—the penalty of one who doesn’t know how to live.
Happiness is in action， and every power is intended for action.
I have always found that it’s more painful to do nothing than something.
Of all the virtues， cheerfulness and enthusiasm are the most profitable.
Enthusiasm flourishes more often in adversity than it does in prosperity.
Contentment grows out of an inward superiority to our surroundings.
We fall into the mistake of supposing that to look forward must mean to look anxiously forward. It is just as easy to look forward with hope as with sadness.
The source of nearly all the evil and unhappiness of this world is selfishness. We know it； but we still keep on being selfish.
Fame without happiness is but a sorry at best.
虽然有时我给读者一种悲观的错觉，但我从来不是一个本质悲观的人。
我更倾向于乐观，因为我非常严肃地看待生命。
悲观是浪费精力的情绪——是用以惩罚那些不知如何生活之人的。
行动才有幸福，每一股力量都是为了行动。
我始终觉得，无所事事比努力工作要痛苦得多。
快乐和热情是所有美德中最宝贵的。
逆境比顺境更能激发热情。
满足源于对周围环境的一种内在优越感。
我们常误认为展望未来意味着对未来的忧虑。满怀憧憬与愁眉紧锁一样容易。
几乎世上所有的罪恶和不幸都源于自私。我们很清楚这点，却仍执迷不悟地自私。
不能带来快乐的荣誉只能是一种遗憾。
1. Pessimism is a of force—the penalty of one who doesn’t know how to .
Happiness is in ， and every power is intended for action.
I have always found that it’s more painful to nothing than something.
2. We fall into the of supposing that to look forward must mean to look anxiously forward. It is just as to look forward with hope as with .
3. The source of nearly the evil and unhappiness of this world is selfishness. We know it； but we still on being selfish.
1. 我更倾向于乐观，因为我非常严肃地看待生命。
2. 我始终觉得，无所事事比努力工作要痛苦得多。
3. 满足源于对周围环境的一种内在优越感。
1. Happiness is in action， and every power is intended for action.
be intended for：打算为……所用；预定给
2. We know it； but we still keep on being selfish.
keep on：继续