THE MAP OF LIFE

CONDUCT AND CHARACTER

BY

WILLIAM EDWARD HARTPOLE LECKY

'La vie n'est pas un plaisir ni une douleur,
mais une affaire grave dont nous sommes
chargés, et qu'il faut conduire et terminer
à notre honneur'
TOCQUEVILLE

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
91 AND 93 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

LONDON AND BOMBAY

1900

All rights reserved

Copyright, 1899, by

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.

All rights reserved.

FIRST EDITION, OCTOBER, 1899.

REPRINTED, NOVEMBER, 1899, AND JANUARY, 1900.

Press of J. J. Little & Co.
Astor Place, New York

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

How far reasoning on happiness is of any use

The arguments of the Determinist

The arguments for free will

Securus judicat orbis terrarum

CHAPTER II

Happiness a condition of mind and often confused with
the means of attaining it
Circumstances and character contribute to it in different
degrees

Religion, Stoicism, and Eastern nations seek it mainly by

acting on disposition

PAGE

1

2

3

5

77

77

Sensational philosophies and industrial and progressive
nations seek it chiefly in improved circumstances

8

8

10

12

Promotion of health by legislation, fashion and self-culture

Slight causes of life failures

12

14

Effects of sanitary reform

14

Diminished disease does not always imply a higher level of

health

Encroachments on liberty in sanitary legislation

Sanitary education—its chief articles-its possible exaggera-
tion

Constant thought about health not the way to attain it

PAGE

16

16

17

18

CHAPTER III

Some general rules of happiness-1. A life full of work.-

Happiness should not be the main object of pursuit

Carlyle on Ennui

19

2. Aim rather at avoiding suffering than attaining pleasure

3. The greatest pleasures and pains in spheres accessible to

4. Importance and difficulty of realising our blessings while

they last

Comparison and contrast

26

27

The problem of balancing content and the desire for pro-

gress

28

What civilisation can do for happiness

28

24

Content not the quality of progressive societies

CHAPTER IV

The relation of morals to happiness.-The Utilitarian justi-
fication of virtue insufficient

Power of man to aim at something different from and higher

than happiness

The creation of unselfish interests one of the chief elements

of happiness

34

Burke on a well-ordered life

35

Improvement of character more within our power than
improvement of intellect

CONTENTS

Dangers attaching to the unselfish side of our nature.-
Active charity personally supervised least subject to
abuse

CHAPTER V

Changes of morals chiefly in the proportionate value at-

tached to different virtues

Military, civic, and intellectual virtues

The mediæval type

Modifications introduced by Protestantism

Bossuet and Louis XIV.

Persecution.-Operations at childbirth.-Usury

Every great religion and philosophic system produces or

favours a distinct moral type

51

Variations in moral judgments

51

Complexity of moral influences of modern times.-The in-

In the guidance of life action more important than pure

reasoning

Rectification of false ideals.-The conqueror

The enforcement of active duty now specially needed

Temptations to luxurious idleness

The luxury of ostentation

Glorification of the demi-monde