ButintheaveragecaseIshouldsay：Confineyourformalprogramme（super—programme，Imean）tosixdaysaweek。Ifyoufindyourselfwishingtoextendit，extendit，butonlyinproportiontoyourwish；andcountthetimeextraasawindfall，notasregularincome，sothatyoucanreturntoasix—dayprogrammewithoutthesensationofbeingpoorer，ofbeingabackslider。
　　Letusnowseewherewestand。Sofarwehavemarkedforsavingoutofthewasteofdays，halfanhouratleastonsixmorningsaweek，andonehourandahalfonthreeeveningsaweek。Total，sevenhoursandahalfaweek。
　　Iproposetobecontentwiththatsevenhoursandahalfforthepresent。"What？"youcry。"Youpretendtoshowushowtolive，andyouonlydealwithsevenhoursandahalfoutofahundredandsixty—eight！Areyougoingtoperformamiraclewithyoursevenhoursandahalf？"Well，nottomincethematter，Iam——ifyouwillkindlyletme！Thatistosay，Iamgoingtoaskyoutoattemptanexperiencewhich，whileperfectlynaturalandexplicable，hasalltheairofamiracle。Mycontentionisthatthefulluseofthoseseven—and—a—halfhourswillquickenthewholelifeoftheweek，addzesttoit，andincreasetheinterestwhichyoufeelineventhemostbanaloccupations。Youpractisephysicalexercisesforameretenminutesmorningandevening，andyetyouarenotastonishedwhenyourphysicalhealthandstrengtharebeneficiallyaffectedeveryhouroftheday，andyourwholephysicaloutlookchanged。Whyshouldyoubeastonishedthatanaverageofoveranhouradaygiventothemindshouldpermanentlyandcompletelyenliventhewholeactivityofthemind？
　　Moretimemightassuredlybegiventothecultivationofone’sself。
　　Andinproportionasthetimewaslongertheresultswouldbegreater。
　　ButIprefertobeginwithwhatlookslikeatriflingeffort。
　　Itisnotreallyatriflingeffort，asthosewilldiscoverwhohaveyettoessayit。To"clear"evensevenhoursandahalffromthejungleispassablydifficult。Forsomesacrificehastobemade。Onemayhavespentone’stimebadly，butonedidspendit；onediddosomethingwithit，howeverill—advisedthatsomethingmayhavebeen。Todosomethingelsemeansachangeofhabits。
　　Andhabitsaretheverydickenstochange！Further，anychange，evenachangeforthebetter，isalwaysaccompaniedbydrawbacksanddiscomforts。Ifyouimaginethatyouwillbeabletodevotesevenhoursandahalfaweektoserious，continuouseffort，andstillliveyouroldlife，youaremistaken。Irepeatthatsomesacrifice，andanimmensedealofvolition，willbenecessary。AnditisbecauseIknowthedifficulty，itisbecauseIknowthealmostdisastrouseffectoffailureinsuchanenterprise，thatIearnestlyadviseaveryhumblebeginning。
　　Youmustsafeguardyourself—respect。Self—respectisattherootofallpurposefulness，andafailureinanenterprisedeliberatelyplanneddealsadesperatewoundatone’sself—respect。HenceIiterateandreiterate：
　　Startquietly，unostentatiously。
　　Whenyouhaveconscientiouslygivensevenhoursandahalfaweektothecultivationofyourvitalityforthreemonths——thenyoumaybegintosinglouderandtellyourselfwhatwondrousthingsyouarecapableofdoing。
　　Beforecomingtothemethodofusingtheindicatedhours，Ihaveonefinalsuggestiontomake。Thatis，asregardstheevenings，toallowmuchmorethananhourandahalfinwhichtodotheworkofanhourandahalf。Rememberthechanceofaccidents。Rememberhumannature。
　　Andgiveyourself，say，from9to11。30foryourtaskofninetyminutes。
　　VII
　　CONTROLLINGTHEMIND
　　Peoplesay："Onecan’thelpone’sthoughts。"Butonecan。Thecontrolofthethinkingmachineisperfectlypossible。Andsincenothingwhateverhappenstousoutsideourownbrain；sincenothinghurtsusorgivesuspleasureexceptwithinthebrain，thesupremeimportanceofbeingabletocontrolwhatgoesoninthatmysteriousbrainispatent。Thisideaisoneoftheoldestplatitudes，butitisaplatitudewho’sprofoundtruthandurgencymostpeopleliveanddiewithoutrealising。Peoplecomplainofthelackofpowertoconcentrate，notwittingthattheymayacquirethepower，iftheychoose。
　　Andwithoutthepowertoconcentrate——thatistosay，withoutthepowertodictatetothebrainitstaskandtoensureobedience——truelifeisimpossible。
　　Mindcontrolisthefirstelementofafullexistence。
　　Hence，itseemstome，thefirstbusinessofthedayshouldbetoputthemindthroughitspaces。Youlookafteryourbody，insideandout；yourungravedangerinhackinghairsoffyourskin；youemployawholearmyofindividuals，fromthemilkmantothepig—killer，toenableyoutobribeyourstomachintodecentbehaviour。Whynotdevotealittleattentiontothefarmoredelicatemachineryofthemind，especiallyasyouwillrequirenoextraneousaid？ItisforthisportionoftheartandcraftoflivingthatIhavereservedthetimefromthemomentofquittingyourdoortothemomentofarrivingatyouroffice。
　　"What？Iamtocultivatemymindinthestreet，ontheplatform，inthetrain，andinthecrowdedstreetagain？"Precisely。Nothingsimpler！
　　Notoolsrequired！Notevenabook。Nevertheless，theaffairisnoteasy。
　　Whenyouleaveyourhouse，concentrateyourmindonasubject（nomatterwhat，tobeginwith）。Youwillnothavegonetenyardsbeforeyourmindhasskippedawayunderyourveryeyesandislarkingroundthecornerwithanothersubject。
　　Bringitbackbythescruffoftheneck。Ereyouhavereachedthestationyouwillhavebroughtitbackaboutfortytimes。Donotdespair。Continue。
　　Keepitup。Youwillsucceed。Youcannotbyanychancefailifyoupersevere。Itisidletopretendthatyourmindisincapableofconcentration。
　　Doyounotrememberthatmorningwhenyoureceivedadisquietingletterwhichdemandedaverycarefully—wordedanswer？Howyoukeptyourmindsteadilyonthesubjectoftheanswer，withoutasecond’sintermission，untilyoureachedyouroffice；whereuponyouinstantlysatdownandwrotetheanswer？Thatwasacaseinwhich*you*wererousedbycircumstancestosuchadegreeofvitalitythatyouwereabletodominateyourmindlikeatyrant。
　　Youwouldhavenotrifling。Youinsistedthatitsworkshouldbedone，anditsworkwasdone。
　　Bytheregularpracticeofconcentration（astowhichthereisnosecret——
　　savethesecretofperseverance）youcantyranniseoveryourmind（whichisnotthehighestpartof*you*）everyhouroftheday，andinnomatterwhatplace。Theexerciseisaveryconvenientone。Ifyougotintoyourmorningtrainwithapairofdumb—bellsforyourmusclesoranencyclopaediaintenvolumesforyourlearning，youwouldprobablyexciteremark。Butasyouwalkinthestreet，orsitinthecornerofthecompartmentbehindapipe，or"strap—hang"ontheSubterranean，whoistoknowthatyouareengagedinthemostimportantofdailyacts？Whatasinineboorcanlaughatyou？
　　Idonotcarewhatyouconcentrateon，solongasyouconcentrate。Itisthemerediscipliningofthethinkingmachinethatcounts。Butstill，youmayaswellkilltwobirdswithonestone，andconcentrateonsomethinguseful。I
　　suggest——itisonlyasuggestion——alittlechapterofMarcusAureliusorEpictetus。
　　Donot，Ibeg，shyattheirnames。Formyself，Iknownothingmore"actual，"
　　moreburstingwithplaincommon—sense，applicabletothedailylifeofplainpersonslikeyouandme（whohateairs，pose，andnonsense）thanMarcusAureliusorEpictetus。Readachapter——andsoshorttheyare，thechapters！
　　——intheeveningandconcentrateonitthenextmorning。Youwillsee。
　　Yes，myfriend，itisuselessforyoutotrytodisguisethefact。Icanhearyourbrainlikeatelephoneatmyear。Youaresayingtoyourself："Thisfellowwasdoingprettywelluptohisseventhchapter。Hehadbeguntointerestmefaintly。Butwhathesaysaboutthinkingintrains，andconcen—
　　tration，andsoon，isnotforme。Itmaybewellenoughforsomefolks，butitisn’tinmyline。"
　　Itisforyou，Ipassionatelyrepeat；itisforyou。Indeed，youaretheverymanIamaimingat。
　　Throwawaythesuggestion，andyouthrowawaythemostprecioussuggestionthatwaseverofferedtoyou。Itisnotmysuggestion。Itisthesuggestionofthemostsensible，practical，hard—headedmenwhohavewalkedtheearth。Ionlygiveityouatsecond—hand。Tryit。Getyourmindinhand。Andseehowtheprocesscureshalftheevilsoflife——especiallyworry，thatmiserable，avoidable，shamefuldisease——worry！
　　VIII
　　THEREFLECTIVEMOOD
　　Theexerciseofconcentratingthemind（towhichatleasthalfanhouradayshouldbegiven）isamerepreliminary，likescalesonthepiano。
　　Havingacquiredpoweroverthatmostunrulymemberofone’scomplexorganism，onehasnaturallytoputittotheyoke。Uselesstopossessanobedientmindunlessoneprofitstothefurthestpossibledegreebyitsobedience。Aprolongedprimarycourseofstudyisindicated。
　　Nowastowhatthiscourseofstudyshouldbetherecannotbeanyquestion；
　　thereneverhasbeenanyquestion。Allthesensiblepeopleofallagesareagreeduponit。Anditisnotliterature，norisitanyotherart，norisithistory，norisitanyscience。Itisthestudyofone’sself。Man，knowthyself。ThesewordsaresohackneyedthatverilyIblushtowritethem。
　　Yettheymustbewritten，fortheyneedtobewritten。（Itakebackmyblush，beingashamedofit。）Man，knowthyself。Isayitoutloud。Thephraseisoneofthosephraseswithwhicheveryoneisfamiliar，ofwhicheveryoneacknowledgesthevalue，andwhichonlythemostsagaciousputintopractice。Idon’tknowwhy。Iamentirelyconvincedthatwhatismorethananythingelselackinginthelifeoftheaveragewell—intentionedmanofto—dayisthereflectivemood。
　　Wedonotreflect。Imeanthatwedonotreflectupongenuinelyimportantthings；upontheproblemofourhappiness，uponthemaindirectioninwhichwearegoing，uponwhatlifeisgivingtous，uponthesharewhichreasonhas（orhasnot）indeterminingouractions，andupontherelationbetweenourprinciplesandourconduct。
　　Andyetyouareinsearchofhappiness，areyounot？Haveyoudiscoveredit？
　　Thechancesarethatyouhavenot。Thechancesarethatyouhavealreadycometobelievethathappinessisunattainable。Butmenhaveattainedit。
　　Andtheyhaveattaineditbyrealisingthathappinessdoesnotspringfromtheprocuringofphysicalormentalpleasure，butfromthedevelopmentofreasonandtheadjustmentofconducttoprinciples。
　　Isupposethatyouwillnothavetheaudacitytodenythis。Andifyouadmitit，andstilldevotenopartofyourdaytothedeliberateconsiderationofyourreason，principles，andconduct，youadmitalsothatwhilestrivingforacertainthingyouareregularlyleavingundonetheoneactwhichisnecessarytotheattainmentofthatthing。
　　Now，shallIblush，orwillyou？
　　DonotfearthatImeantothrustcertainprinciplesuponyourattention。Icarenot（inthisplace）whatyourprinciplesare。Yourprinciplesmayinduceyoutobelieveintherighteousnessofburglary。Idon’tmind。AllIurgeisthatalifeinwhichconductdoesnotfairlywellaccordwithprinciplesisasillylife；andthatconductcanonlybemadetoaccordwithprinciplesbymeansofdailyexamination，reflection，andresolution。Whatleadstothepermanentsorrow—
　　fulnessofburglarsisthattheirprinciplesarecontrarytoburglary。Iftheygenuinelybelievedinthemoralexcellenceofburglary，penalservitudewouldsimplymeansomanyhappyyearsforthem；allmartyrsarehappyyearsforthem；allmartyrsarehappy，becausetheirconductandtheirprinciplesagree。
　　Asforreason（whichmakesconduct，andisnotunconnectedwiththemakingofprinciples），itplaysafarsmallerpartinourlivesthanwefancy。Wearesupposedtobereasonablebutwearemuchmoreinstinctivethanreasonable。
　　Andthelesswereflect，thelessreasonableweshallbe。Thenexttimeyougetcrosswiththewaiterbecauseyoursteakisover—cooked，askreasontostepintothecabinet—roomofyourmind，andconsulther。Shewillprobablytellyouthatthewaiterdidnotcookthesteak，andhadnocontroloverthecookingofthesteak；andthatevenifhealonewastoblame，youaccomplishednothinggoodbygettingcross；youmerelylostyourdignity，lookedafoolintheeyesofsensiblemen，andsouredthewaiter，whileproducingnoeffectwhateveronthesteak。
　　Theresultofthisconsultationwithreason（forwhichshemakesnocharge）
　　willbethatwhenoncemoreyoursteakisover—cookedyouwilltreatthewaiterasafellow—creature，remainquitecalminakindlyspirit，andpolitelyinsistonhavingafreshsteak。Thegainwillbeobviousandsolid。
　　Intheformationormodificationofprinciples，andthepracticeofconduct，muchhelpcanbederivedfromprintedbooks（issuedatsixpenceeachandupwards）。ImentionedinmylastchapterMarcusAureliusandEpictetus。
　　Certainevenmorewidelyknownworkswilloccuratoncetothememory。
　　ImayalsomentionPascal，LaBruyere，andEmerson。Formyself，youdonotcatchmetravellingwithoutmyMarcusAurelius。Yes，booksarevaluable。Butnotreadingofbookswilltaketheplaceofadaily，candid，honestexaminationofwhatonehasrecentlydone，andwhatoneisabouttodo——ofasteadylookingatone’sselfintheface（disconcertingthoughthesightmaybe）。
　　Whenshallthisimportantbusinessbeaccomplished？Thesolitudeoftheeveningjourneyhomeappearstometobesuitableforit。Areflectivemoodnaturallyfollowstheexertionofhavingearnedtheday’sliving。
　　Ofcourseif，insteadofattendingtoanelementaryandprofoundlyimportantduty，youprefertoreadthepaper（whichyoumightjustaswellreadwhilewaitingforyourdinner）Ihavenothingtosay。Butattendtoitatsometimeofthedayyoumust。Inowcometotheeveninghours。
　　IX
　　INTERESTINTHEARTS
　　Manypeoplepursuearegularanduninterruptedcourseofidlenessintheeveningsbecausetheythinkthatthereisnoalternativetoidlenessbutthestudyofliterature；andtheydonothappentohaveatasteforliterature。Thisisagreatmistake。
　　Ofcourseitisimpossible，oratanyrateverydifficult，properlytostudyanythingwhateverwithouttheaidofprintedbooks。Butifyoudesiretounderstandthedeeperdepthsofbridgeorofboat—sailingyouwouldnotbedeterredbyyourlackofinterestinliteraturefromreadingthebestbooksonbridgeorboat—sailing。Wemust，therefore，distinguishbetweenliterature，andbookstreatingofsubjectsnotliterary。Ishallcometoliteratureinduecourse。
　　LetmenowremarktothosewhohaveneverreadMeredith，andwhoarecapableofbeingunmovedbyadiscussionastowhetherMr。StephenPhillipsisorisnotatruepoet，thattheyareperfectlywithintheirrights。
　　Itisnotacrimenottoloveliterature。Itisnotasignofimbecility。Themandarinsofliteraturewillorderouttoinstantexecutiontheunfortunateindividualwhodoesnotcomprehend，say，theinfluenceofWordsworthonTennyson。Butthatisonlytheirimpudence。Wherewouldtheybe，Iwonder，ifrequestedtoexplaintheinfluencesthatwenttomakeTschaikowsky’s"PatheticSymphony"？
　　Thereareenormousfieldsofknowledgequiteoutsideliteraturewhichwillyieldmagnificentresultstocultivators。Forexample（sinceIhavejustmentionedthemostpopularpieceofhigh—classmusicinEnglandto—day），IamremindedthatthePromenadeConcertsbegininAugust。
　　Yougotothem。Yousmokeyourcigarorcigarette（andIregrettosaythatyoustrikeyourmatchesduringthesoftbarsofthe"Lohengrin"
　　overture），andyouenjoythemusic。Butyousayyoucannotplaythepianoorthefiddle，oreventhebanjo；thatyouknownothingofmusic。
　　Whatdoesthatmatter？Thatyouhaveagenuinetasteformusicisprovedbythefactthat，inordertofillhishallwithyouandyourpeers，theconductorisobligedtoprovideprogrammesfromwhichbadmusicisalmostentirelyexcluded（achangefromtheoldCoventGardendays！）。
　　Nowsurelyyourinabilitytoperform"TheMaiden’sPrayer"onapianoneednotpreventyoufrommakingyourselffamiliarwiththeconstructionoftheorchestratowhichyoulistenacoupleofnightsaweekduringacoupleofmonths！Asthingsare，youprobablythinkoftheorchestraasaheterogeneousmassofinstrumentsproducingaconfusedagreeablemassofsound。Youdonotlistenfordetailsbecauseyouhavenevertrainedyourearstolistentodetails。
　　IfyouwereaskedtonametheinstrumentswhichplaythegreatthemeatthebeginningoftheCminorsymphonyyoucouldnotnamethemforyourlife’ssake。YetyouadmiretheCminorsymphony。Ithasthrilledyou。Itwillthrillyouagain。Youhaveeventalkedaboutit，inanexpansivemood，tothatlady——youknowwhomImean。AndallyoucanpositivelystateabouttheCminorsymphonyisthatBeethovencomposeditandthatitisa"jollyfinething。"
　　Now，ifyouhaveread，say，Mr。Krehbiel’s"HowtoListentoMusic"（whichcanbegotatanybookseller’sforlessthanthepriceofastallattheAlhambra，andwhichcontainsphotographsofalltheorchestralinstrumentsandplansofthearrangementoforchestras）youwouldnextgotoapromenadeconcertwithanastonishingintensificationofinterestinit。Insteadofaconfusedmass，theorchestrawouldappeartoyouaswhatitis——amarvellouslybalancedorganismwhosevariousgroupsofmemberseachhaveadifferentandanindispensablefunction。Youwouldspyouttheinstruments，andlistenfortheirrespectivesounds。YouwouldknowthegulfthatseparatesaFrenchhornfromanEnglishhorn，andyouwouldperceivewhyaplayerofthehautboygetshigherwagesthanafiddler，thoughthefiddleisthemoredifficultinstrument。Youwould*live*atapromenadeconcert，whereaspreviouslyyouhadmerelyexistedthereinastateofbeatificcoma，likeababygazingatabrightobject。
　　Thefoundationsofagenuine，systematicknowledgeofmusicmightbelaid。
　　Youmightspecialiseyourinquirieseitheronaparticularformofmusic（suchasthesymphony），orontheworksofaparticularcomposer。Attheendofayearofforty—eightweeksofthreebriefeveningseach，combinedwithastudyofprogrammesandattendancesatconcertschosenoutofyourincreasingknowledge，youwouldreallyknowsomethingaboutmusic，eventhoughyouwereasfaroffaseverfromjangling"TheMaiden’sPrayer"onthepiano。
　　"ButIhatemusic！"yousay。Mydearsir，Irespectyou。
　　Whatappliestomusicappliestotheotherarts。ImightmentionMr。ClermontWitt’s"HowtoLookatPictures，"orMr。RussellSturgis’s"HowtoJudgeArchitecture，"asbeginnings（merelybeginnings）ofsystematicvitalisingknowledgeinotherarts，thematerialsforwhosestudyaboundinLondon。
　　"Ihateallthearts！"yousay。Mydearsir，Irespectyoumoreandmore。
　　Iwilldealwithyourcasenext，beforecomingtoliterature。
　　X
　　NOTHINGINLIFEISHUMDRUM
　　Artisagreatthing。Butitisnotthegreatest。Themostimportantofallperceptionsisthecontinualperceptionofcauseandeffect—inotherwords，theperceptionofthecontinuousdevelopmentoftheuniverse—instillotherwords，theperceptionofthecourseofevolution。Whenonehasthoroughlygotimbuedintoone’sheadtheleadingtruththatnothinghappenswithoutacause，onegrowsnotonlylarge—minded，butlarge—hearted。
　　Itishardtohaveone’swatchstolen，butonereflectsthatthethiefofthewatchbecameathieffromcausesofheredityandenvironmentwhichareasinterestingastheyarescientificallycomprehensible；andonebuysanotherwatch，ifnotwithjoy，atanyratewithaphilosophythatmakesbitternessimpossible。Oneloses，inthestudyofcauseandeffect，thatabsurdairwhichsomanypeoplehaveofbeingalwaysshockedandpainedbythecuriousnessoflife。Suchpeopleliveamidhumannatureasifhumannaturewereaforeigncountryfullofawfulforeigncustoms。But，havingreachedmaturity，oneoughtsurelytobeashamedofbeingastrangerinastrangeland！
　　Thestudyofcauseandeffect，whileitlessensthepainfulnessoflife，addstolife’spicturesqueness。Themantowhomevolutionisbutanamelooksattheseaasagrandiose，monotonousspectacle，whichhecanwitnessinAugustforthreeshillingsthird—classreturn。Themanwhoisimbuedwiththeideaofdevelopment，ofcontinuouscauseandeffect，perceivesintheseaanelementwhichintheday—before—yesterdayofgeologywasvapour，whichyesterdaywasboiling，andwhichto—morrowwillinevitablybeice。
　　Heperceivesthataliquidismerelysomethingonitswaytobesolid，andheispenetratedbyasenseofthetremendous，changefulpicturesquenessoflife。Nothingwillaffordamoredurablesatisfactionthantheconstantlycultivatedappreciationofthis。Itistheendofallscience。
　　Causeandeffectaretobefoundeverywhere。RentswentupinShepherd’sBush。ItwaspainfulandshockingthatrentsshouldgoupinShepherd’sBush。Buttoacertainpointweareallscientificstudentsofcauseandeffect，andtherewasnotaclerklunchingataLyonsRestaurantwhodidnotscienti—
　　ficallyputtwoandtwotogetherandseeinthe（once）Two—pennyTubethecauseofanexcessivedemandforwigwamsinShepherd’sBush，andintheexcessivedemandforwigwamsthecauseoftheincreaseinthepriceofwigwams。
　　"Simple！"yousay，disdainfully。Everything—thewholecomplexmovementoftheuniverse—isassimpleasthat—whenyoucansufficientlyputtwoandtwotogether。And，mydearsir，perhapsyouhappentobeanestateagent’sclerk，andyouhatethearts，andyouwanttofosteryourimmortalsoul，andyoucan’tbeinterestedinyourbusinessbecauseit’ssohumdrum。
　　Nothingishumdrum。
　　Thetremendous，changefulpicturesquenessoflifeismarvellouslyshowninanestateagent’soffice。What！TherewasablockoftrafficinOxfordStreet；toavoidtheblockpeopleactuallybegantotravelunderthecellarsanddrains，andtheresultwasariseofrentsinShepherd’sBush！Andyousaythatisn’tpicturesque！Supposeyouweretostudy，inthisspirit，thepropertyquestioninLondonforanhourandahalfeveryotherevening。
　　Woulditnotgivezesttoyourbusiness，andtransformyourwholelife？
　　Youwouldarriveatmoredifficultproblems。Andyouwouldbeabletotelluswhy，asthenaturalresultofcauseandeffect，thelongeststraightstreetinLondonisaboutayardandahalfinlength，whilethelongestabsolutelystraightstreetinParisextendsformiles。Ithinkyouwilladmitthatinanestateagent’sclerkIhavenotchosenanexamplethatspeciallyfavoursmytheories。
　　Youareabankclerk，andyouhavenotreadthatbreathlessromance（disguisedasascientificstudy），WalterBagehot’s"LombardStreet"？
　　Ah，mydearsir，ifyouhadbegunwiththat，andfolloweditupforninetyminuteseveryotherevening，howenthrallingyourbusinesswouldbetoyou，andhowmuchmoreclearlyyouwouldunderstandhumannature。
　　Youare"pennedintown，"butyouloveexcursionstothecountryandtheobservationofwildlife—certainlyaheart—enlargingdiversion。Whydon’tyouwalkoutofyourhousedoor，inyourslippers，tothenearestgaslampofanightwithabutterflynet，andobservethewildlifeofcommonandraremothsthatisbeatingaboutit，andco—ordinatetheknowledgethusobtainedandbuildasuperstructureonit，andatlastgettoknowsomethingaboutsomething？
　　Youneednotbedevotedtothearts，nottoliterature，inordertolivefully。
　　Thewholefieldofdailyhabitandsceneiswaitingtosatisfythatcuriositywhichmeanslife，andthesatisfactionofwhichmeansanunderstandingheart。
　　Ipromisedtodealwithyourcase，Omanwhohatesartandliterature，andIhavedealtwithit。Inowcometothecaseoftheperson，happilyverycommon，whodoes"likereading。"
　　XI
　　SERIOUSREADING
　　Novelsareexcludedfrom"seriousreading，"sothatthemanwho，bentonself—improvement，hasbeendecidingtodevoteninetyminutesthreetimesaweektoacompletestudyoftheworksofCharlesDickenswillbewelladvisedtoalterhisplans。Thereasonisnotthatnovelsarenotserious——
　　someofthegreatliteratureoftheworldisintheformofprosefiction——
　　thereasonisthatbadnovelsoughtnottoberead，andthatgoodnovelsneverdemandanyappreciablementalapplicationonthepartofthereader。
　　ItisonlythebadpartsofMeredith’snovelsthataredifficult。Agoodnovelrushesyouforwardlikeaskiffdownastream，andyouarriveattheend，perhapsbreathless，butunexhausted。Thebestnovelsinvolvetheleaststrain。Nowinthecultivationofthemindoneofthemostimportantfactorsispreciselythefeelingofstrain，ofdifficulty，ofataskwhichonepartofyouisanxioustoachieveandanotherpartofyouisanxioustoshirk；andthatfeelingcannotbegotinfacinganovel。Youdonotsetyourteethinordertoread"AnnaKarenina。"Therefore，thoughyoushouldreadnovels，youshouldnotreadtheminthoseninetyminutes。
　　Imaginativepoetryproducesafargreatermentalstrainthannovels。Itproducesprobablythesevereststrainofanyformofliterature。Itisthehighestformofliterature。Ityieldsthehighestformofpleasure，andteachesthehighestformofwisdom。Inaword，thereisnothingtocomparewithit。Isaythiswithsadconsciousnessofthefactthatthemajorityofpeopledonotreadpoetry。
　　Iampersuadedthatmanyexcellentpersons，iftheywereconfrontedwiththealternativesofreading"ParadiseLost"andgoingroundTrafalgarSquareatnoondayontheirkneesinsack—cloth，wouldchoosetheordealofpublicridicule。Still，Iwillneverceaseadvisingmyfriendsandenemiestoreadpoetrybeforeanything。
　　Ifpoetryiswhatiscalled"asealedbook"toyou，beginbyreadingHazlitt’sfamousessayonthenatureof"poetryingeneral。"ItisthebestthingofitskindinEnglish，andnoonewhohasreaditcanpossiblybeunderthemisapprehensionthatpoetryisamediaevaltorture，oramadelephant，oragunthatwillgooffbyitselfandkillatfortypaces。
　　Indeed，itisdifficulttoimaginethementalstateofthemanwho，afterreadingHazlitt’sessay，isnoturgentlydesirousofreadingsomepoetrybeforehisnextmeal。IftheessaysoinspiresyouIwouldsuggestthatyoumakeacommencementwithpurelynarrativepoetry。
　　ThereisaninfinitelyfinerEnglishnovel，writtenbyawoman，thananythingbyGeorgeEliotortheBrontes，orevenJaneAusten，whichperhapsyouhavenotread。Itstitleis"AuroraLeigh，"anditsauthorE。B。Browning。Ithappenstobewritteninverse，andtocontainaconsiderableamountofgenuinelyfinepoetry。Decidetoreadthatbookthrough，evenifyoudieforit。Forgetthatitisfinepoetry。
　　Readitsimplyforthestoryandthesocialideas。Andwhenyouhavedone，askyourselfhonestlywhetheryoustilldislikepoetry。
　　Ihaveknownmorethanonepersontowhom"AuroraLeigh"hasbeenthemeansofprovingthatinassumingtheyhatedpoetrytheywereentirelymistaken。
　　Ofcourse，if，afterHazlitt，andsuchanexperimentmadeinthelightofHazlitt，youarefinallyassuredthatthereissomethinginyouwhichisantagonistictopoetry，youmustbecontentwithhistoryorphilosophy。
　　Ishallregretit，yetnotinconsolably。"TheDeclineandFall"isnottobenamedinthesamedaywith"ParadiseLost，"butitisavastlyprettything；
　　andHerbertSpencer’s"FirstPrinciples"simplylaughsattheclaimsofpoetryandrefusestobeacceptedasaughtbutthemostmajesticproductofanyhumanmind。Idonotsuggestthateitheroftheseworksissuitableforatyroinmentalstrains。ButIseenoreasonwhyanymanofaverageintelligenceshouldnot，afterayearofcontinuousreading，befittoassaultthesuprememasterpiecesofhistoryorphilosophy。Thegreatconvenienceofmasterpiecesisthattheyaresoastonishinglylucid。
　　Isuggestnoparticularworkasastart。Theattemptwouldbefutileinthespaceofmycommand。ButIhavetwogeneralsuggestionsofacertainimportance。Thefirstistodefinethedirectionandscopeofyourefforts。
　　Choosealimitedperiod，oralimitedsubject，orasingleauthor。Saytoyourself："IwillknowsomethingabouttheFrenchRevolution，ortheriseofrailways，ortheworksofJohnKeats。"Andduringagivenperiod，tobesettledbeforehand，confineyourselftoyourchoice。Thereismuchpleasuretobederivedfrombeingaspecialist。
　　Thesecondsuggestionistothinkaswellastoread。Iknowpeoplewhoreadandread，andforallthegooditdoesthemtheymightjustaswellcutbread—and—butter。Theytaketoreadingasbettermentaketodrink。
　　Theyflythroughtheshiresofliteratureonamotor—car，theirsoleobjectbeingmotion。Theywilltellyouhowmanybookstheyhavereadinayear。
　　Unlessyougiveatleastforty—fiveminutestocareful，fatiguingreflection（itisanawfulboreatfirst）uponwhatyouarereading，yourninetyminutesofanightarechieflywasted。Thismeansthatyourpacewillbeslow。
　　Nevermind。
　　Forgetthegoal；thinkonlyofthesurroundingcountry；andafteraperiod，perhapswhenyouleastexpectit，youwillsuddenlyfindyourselfinalovelytownonahill。
　　XII
　　DANGERSTOAVOID
　　Icannotterminatethesehints，often，Ifear，toodidacticandabrupt，uponthefulluseofone’stimetothegreatendofliving（asdistinguishedfromvegetating）withoutbrieflyreferringtocertaindangerswhichlieinwaitforthesincereaspiranttowardslife。Thefirstistheterribledangerofbecomingthatmostodiousandleastsupportableofpersons——aprig。
　　Nowaprigisapertfellowwhogiveshimselfairsofsuperiorwisdom。
　　Aprigisapompousfoolwhohasgoneoutforaceremonialwalk，andwithoutknowingithaslostanimportantpartofhisattire，namely，hissenseofhumour。Aprigisatediousindividualwho，havingmadeadiscovery，issoimpressedbyhisdiscoverythatheiscapableofbeinggravelydispleasedbecausetheentireworldisnotalsoimpressedbyit。
　　Unconsciouslytobecomeaprigisaneasyandafatalthing。
　　Hence，whenonesetsforthontheenterpriseofusingallone’stime，itisjustaswelltorememberthatone’sowntime，andnototherpeople’stime，isthematerialwithwhichonehastodeal；thattheearthrolledonprettycomfortablybeforeonebegantobalanceabudgetofthehours，andthatitwillcontinuetorollonprettycomfortablywhetherornotonesucceedsinone’snewroleofchancelloroftheexchequeroftime。Itisaswellnottochattertoomuchaboutwhatoneisdoing，andnottobetrayatoo—painedsadnessatthespectacleofawholeworlddeliberatelywastingsomanyhoursoutofeveryday，andthereforeneverreallyliving。Itwillbefound，ultimately，thatintakingcareofone’sselfonehasquiteallonecando。
　　Anotherdangeristhedangerofbeingtiedtoaprogrammelikeaslavetoachariot。One’sprogrammemustnotbeallowedtorunawaywithone。
　　Itmustberespected，butitmustnotbeworshippedasafetish。Aprogrammeofdailyemployisnotareligion。
　　Thisseemsobvious。YetIknowmenwhoselivesareaburdentothemselvesandadistressingburdentotheirrelativesandfriendssimplybecausetheyhavefailedtoappreciatetheobvious。"Oh，no，"Ihaveheardthemartyredwifeexclaim，"Arthuralwaystakesthedogoutforexerciseateighto’clockandhealwaysbeginstoreadataquartertonine。Soit’squiteoutofthequestionthatweshould……"etc。，etc。Andthenoteofabsolutefinalityinthatplaintivevoicerevealstheunsuspectedandridiculoustragedyofacareer。
　　Ontheotherhand，aprogrammeisaprogramme。Andunlessitistreatedwithdeferenceitceasestobeanythingbutapoorjoke。Totreatone’sprogrammewithexactlytherightamountofdeference，tolivewithnottoomuchandnottoolittleelasticity，isscarcelythesimpleaffairitmayappeartotheinexperienced。
　　Andstillanotherdangeristhedangerofdevelopingapolicyofrush，ofbeinggraduallymoreandmoreobsessedbywhatonehastodonext。Inthiswayonemaycometoexistasinaprison，andoneslifemayceasetobeone’sown。Onemaytakethedogoutforawalkateighto’clock，andmeditatethewholetimeonthefactthatonemustbegintoreadataquartertonine，andthatonemustnotbelate。
　　Andtheoccasionaldeliberatebreakingofone’sprogrammewillnothelptomendmatters。Theevilspringsnotfrompersistingwithoutelasticityinwhatonehasattempted，butfromoriginallyattemptingtoomuch，fromfillingone’sprogrammetillitrunsover。Theonlycureistoreconstitutetheprogramme，andtoattemptless。
　　Buttheappetiteforknowledgegrowsbywhatitfeedson，andtherearemenwhocometolikeaconstantbreathlesshurryofendeavour。Ofthemitmaybesaidthataconstantbreathlesshurryisbetterthananeternaldoze。
　　Inanycase，iftheprogrammeexhibitsatendencytobeoppressive，andyetonewishesnottomodifyit，anexcellentpalliativeistopasswithexaggerateddeliberationfromoneportionofittoanother；forexample，tospendfiveminutesinperfectmentalquiescencebetweenchaininguptheSt。Bernardandopeningthebook；inotherwords，towastefiveminuteswiththeentireconsciousnessofwastingthem。
　　Thelast，andchiefestdangerwhichIwouldindicate，isonetowhichI
　　havealreadyreferred——theriskofafailureatthecommencementoftheenterprise。
　　Imustinsistonit。
　　Afailureatthecommencementmayeasilykilloutrightthenewbornimpulsetowardsacompletevitality，andthereforeeveryprecautionshouldbeobservedtoavoidit。Theimpulsemustnotbeover—taxed。
　　Letthepaceofthefirstlapbeevenabsurdlyslow，butletitbeasregularaspossible。
　　And，havingoncedecidedtoachieveacertaintask，achieveitatallcostsoftediumanddistaste。Thegaininself—confidenceofhavingaccomplishedatiresomelabourisimmense。
　　Finally，inchoosingthefirstoccupationsofthoseeveninghours，beguidedbynothingwhateverbutyourtasteandnaturalinclination。
　　Itisafinethingtobeawalkingencyclopaediaofphilosophy，butifyouhappentohavenolikingforphilosophy，andtohavealikeforthenaturalhistoryofstreet—cries，muchbetterleavephilosophyalone，andtaketostreet—cries。