Maxims and Reflections

Some happy talent, and some fortunate opportunity, may form the two sides of the ladder on which some men mount, but the rounds of that ladder must be made of stuff to stand wear and tear; and there is no substitute for thorough-going, ardent, and sincere earnestness.

Que chez les enfants tout soit irréflexion, c'est ce que tous les pédagogues ne cessent de répéter ; mais que les hommes faits soient de grands enfants qui se traînent en chancelant sur ce globe, sans savoir non plus d'où ils viennent et où ils vont ; qu'ils n'aient point de but plus certain dans leurs actions, et qu'on les gouverne de même avec du

Goethe certainly thought so. He wrote, “Man of ability and action, be worthy of, and expect grace from those that are great, favour from the powerful, a helping hand from those who are active and good, affection from the crowd, love from an individual.”

Therefore, it is with great truth that Aristotle says, To be happy means to be self-sufficient.