II
CONTENTMENT
I have attempted of late, in more than one book, to depict a
certain kind of tranquil life, a life of reflection rather than of
action, of contemplation rather than of business; and I have tried
to do this from different points of view, though the essence has
been the same. I endeavoured at first to do it anonymously, because
I have no desire to recommend these ideas as being my own theories.
The personal background rather detracts from than adds to the value
of the thoughts, because people can compare my theories with my
practice, and show how lamentably I fail to carry them out. But
time after time I have been pulled reluctantly out of my burrow, by
what I still consider a wholly misguided zeal for publicity, till I
have decided that I will lurk no longer. It was in this frame of
mind that I published, under my own name, a book called Beside
Still Waters, a harmless enough volume, I thought, which was meant
to be a deliberate summary or manifesto of these ideas. It depicted
a young man who, after a reasonable experience of practical life,
resolved to retire into the shade, who in that position indulged
profusely in leisurely reverie.
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