What is the good of life if its chief element, and that which must always be its chief element, is odious? No, the only true economy is to arrange so that your daily labor shall be itself a joy.
Interpretation
Life should be enjoyable and fulfilling rather than burdensome.
Edward Carpenter emphasizes the importance of finding joy in one's daily activities. He argues that if life’s fundamental aspect is unpleasant, then it loses its value. True fulfillment comes from arranging our lives in such a way that our work and daily labor bring us happiness rather than dread.
In practice
In a motivational speech about work-life balance, you might say, 'What is the good of life if its chief element is odious?' to emphasize the importance of finding joy in daily tasks.
Satiety depends not at all on how much we eat, but on how we eat. It's the same with happiness, the very same...happiness doesn't depend on how many external blessings we have snatched from life. It depends only on our attitude toward them. There's a saying about it in the Taoist ethic: 'Whoever is capable of contentment will always be satisfied.
I don't feel like my money or my success defines me. I've always been very happy just bein' me.
All men have happiness as their object: there is no exception. However different the means they employ, they all aim at the same end.
What if in my waking hours a sound should ring through the silent halls of hearing? ... Would the bow and string tension of life snap? Would the heart over weighted with sudden joy stop beating for very excess of happiness?
As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery._x000D_ _x000D_ We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace._x000D_ _x000D_ The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as_x000D_ _x000D_ anger and attachment, fear and suspicion,_x000D_ _x000D_ while love and compassion, a sense of universal responsibility_x000D_ _x000D_ are the sources of peace and happiness.
There is no end of craving. Hence contentment alone is the best way to happiness. Therefore, acquire contentment.
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