Wednesday, February 22, 2006

True Joy in Life

True Joy in Life

I stumbled on this paragraph minutes ago again, a paragraph which I copied in my notebook years ago, and yet I still find so much strength in it.


“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy…

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can…

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It’s a sort of splendid torch which I’ve got a hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible. Before handing it on to future generations.”


~~ George Bernard Shaw in the Epistle Dedicatory to “Man and Superman” (1903).

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