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haply suffer. Courage without proof, like faith without works, is dead. Therefore good has its price: the bad and the weak think it high, but the good and the strong think it low.

Thirdly: "God has made laws: were it not better for all men to observe them,—and if better, happier?" As to happiness, if any man has found out a method for continual felicity,—if any man can show us how we may be even as happy continually as we can get in half an hour over a bottle of good, wine, we will go ten thousand miles on foot to lay all our possessions at his feet, and on our knees implore of him his secret.—There is no such man, nor has such a method been discovered. We have seen no man of whom we could affirm a happier fate than our own. You will find some men sacrificing the animal to the spiritual; and some are sacrificing the spiritual to the animal. We cultivate the golden mean; yet it is a low-toned sort of world—no one is continually exulting.

But when you say "One course is better for me than another?" we answer, yes: yet when you ask us, what is that course? we answer, that is to be determined only by your taking it: you cannot go amiss, while God reigns. The course that you will take will be the best course for you, and for all other men.—"Is it not better for me to obey the laws? and if better, happier?"—If you obey, it is better than to have disobeyed; if you disobey, it is better than to have obeyed,—and if better, happier.—"But what shall determine me?"—God.—"But I would be happy."—And you shall be as happy as possible.—"But what shall I seek?"—What you desire.—"By what means?"

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