How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.
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The unnatural puritan tradition under which all Anglo- Saxon peoples still labour prevents a normal expression of life forces in daily life. Authoritarian education develops pathological inhibitions and excesses. The “ censor ” artificially developed by a stultifying tradition must be abolished if an individual is to have any sense of freedom. For repressed individuals, no matter what the source of their repression, alcohol is the Open Sesame toward personal expression. Psychologically, this expression is usually an attempt to attain an irresponsible freedom to break traditional taboos which run counter to the normal stream of human behaviour. It is well known that an intoxicated man is not responsible for his actions. Many men and women drink solely in order to attain a state of irresponsibility and a semblance of happiness, through freedom from the chains of a constricting tradition. Excesses committed in alcoholic intoxication are often sexual because our tradition is most cruel to normal sexual expression, but often the irresponsibility is expressed in words or foolish actions. “ Oh, you mustn’t mind what I said last night. I was drunk ” is the excuse we often hear after an alcoholic orgy ; frequently the individual conveniently forgets any irresponsible acts, inconsistent with his sober personality, committed during intoxication. Need we explain that this irresponsibility is not real ? Need we explain that drinking whisky in order to be irresponsible bespeaks a timid approach to life ? Need we say that real happiness, which must originate from the conscious, calm utilization of life forces to a useful end, can never be gained by the artificial use of stimulants and intoxicants ? While it is true that a man is not responsible for his actions while he is drunk, he is responsible for getting drunk. It is a cheap, and yet very ephemeral happiness, that is bought at the expense of simply checking the critical faculties at the gate, and “ letting go ” in the semi-delirium of alcoholic intoxication. The exaltation of the inhibited man in his cups is