How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.
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- Publication/creation
- London : George Routledge, 1932.
- Physical description
- xiv, 374 pages ; 22 cm
- Contributors
- Wolfe, W. Béran 1900-1935.
- Notes
-
This edition was reprinted in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1942, 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1948.
Copy 1 Note: 1937 reprint. X158203
- Attribution and usage
-
Wellcome Collection
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The image contains the following text:
*5.
220 HOW TO BE HAPPY THOUGH HUMAN
to be found in the side-shows but in the main arenas.
The man who has mastered a difficulty and surmounted
an obstacle recharges his vital courage, and can afford to
stop and help a fellow-man over the same obstacles.
Only the egoist in the side-show, hypnotized by his own
need for excuses, cannot spare the time to listen to the
other fellow’s story.
Why Normality Pays
Every consideration of the problem of living brings us
back to the same point : ignorance gives birth to fear ;
fear is the father of isolation ; and isolation spawns
further discouragement, irresponsibility, and neuroses of
every conceivable variety. Isolation, fear, and ignorance
in turn cause a man to constrict the sphere of his activity.
They force him out of the main arenas of life, and push
him into the side-shows. The risk is less there, and that is
why such an imposing percentage of human beings are to
be found busily occupied with the useless problems of
life’s side-shows. It is a truism that the smaller the arena,
the less dangerous the encounter, the less imposing the
enemy must be. This is the secret of the side-show.
Why is it, then, that anyone should risk the major
difficulties of the three chief rings if he can win greater
security in the side-shows ? Why should any human
being strive to earn a living if he can support himself in
any other way without too much difficulty ? We have
already suggested that those who find themselves in the
side-shows are entirely justified in their cowardice because
they are ignorant of the elements of the fine art of living ;
they have reacted correctly to life’s challenge in terms
of their inadequate knowledge. If we are to lure anyone
out of the security of the side-show we must, in the last
analysis, show him that it is safer in the main arena,
because security is his goal in life. His only mistake is the
mistake of strategy and technique.
As a matter of fact, the main arena is not only safer than
the side-show, but its dividends in satisfaction, self¬
esteem, and happiness are incomparably greater than those