Centuries of Meditations

11

That maxim also which your friend used is of very great and Divine concernment: I will first spend a great deal of time in seeking Happiness, and then a great deal more in enjoying it. For if Happiness be worthy to be sought, it is worthy to be enjoyed. As no folly in the world is more vile than that pretended by alchemists, of having the Philosopher’s Stone and being contented without using it: so is no deceit more odious, than that of spending many days in studying, and none in enjoying, happiness. That base pretence is an argument of falsehood and mere forgery in them, that after so much toil in getting it they refuse to use it. Their pretence is that they are so abundantly satisfied in having it, that they care not for the use of it. So the neglect of any man that finds it, shows that indeed he hath lost of happiness. That which he hath found is counterfeit ware, if he neglect to use it: tis only because he cannot; true happiness being too precious to be despised. Shall I forsake all riches and pleasures for happiness, and pursue it many days and months and years, and then neglect and bury it when I have it? I will now spend days and nights in possessing it, as I did before in seeking it. It is better being happy than asleep.