The most useful lesson that we can possibly learn, towards the
attainment of happiness in this world, is to enjoy those blessings
that we have in our power, without vainly pining after those which
we have not. Instead of being ambitious of having more endowments
than nature has allotted to us, we should spare no pains to cultivate
those we have; and which a sourness or peevishness of temper, instead
of improving, will certainly lessen and impair. Whoever neglects the
happiness within his reach, in order to brood over the consideration
of how much happier he might have been, had his situation been like
that of others, ingeniously contrives to torment himself, and opens a
perpetual source of discontent, which prevents his ever being at ease.
He does not reflect, or he would soon discover, that all the desirable
properties in the world never centered in one man, and that those who
have had the greatest share of them, if of an unhappy disposition,
still wished for something more, and wanted to possess some inherent
gifts which shone forth in other men: but such persons ought to be
put in mind, that it does not become mortals to repine at the will of
Heaven, which distributes happiness with an equal hand upon the highest
and the lowest of mankind, if they were wise enough, and grateful
enough, to perceive it.
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