The Pleasures of Life is a collection of essays by Sir John Lubbock, drawn from addresses on how to find happiness and meaning in daily life. It reflects on themes such as duty, books, friendship, travel, home, science, education, art, nature, and rest. Listeners may enjoy its gentle, thoughtful encouragement to notice life's ordinary blessings.
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Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
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THE PLEASURES OF LIFE
SIR JOHN LUBBOCK
CONTENTS.
PART I
CHAPTER I THE DUTY OF HAPPINESS
CHAPTER II THE HAPPINESS OF DUTY
CHAPTER III A SONG OF BOOKS
CHAPTER IV THE CHOICE OF BOOKS
CHAPTER V THE BLESSING OF FRIENDS CHAPTER VI THE VALUE OF TIME CHAPTER VII THE PLEASURES OF TRAVEL CHAPTER VIII THE PLEASURES OF HOME CHAPTER IX SCIENCE CHAPTER X EDUCATION PART II CHAPTER I AMBITION CHAPTER II WEALTH CHAPTER III HEALTH CHAPTER IV LOVE CHAPTER V ART CHAPTER VI POETRY CHAPTER VII MUSIC CHAPTER VIII THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAPTER IX THE TROUBLES OF LIFE CHAPTER X LABOR AND REST CHAPTER XI RELIGION CHAPTER XII THE HOPE OF PROGRESS CHAPTER XIII THE DESTINY OF MAN
PREFACE
Those who have the pleasure of attending the opening meetings of schools and colleges, and of giving away prizes and certificates, are generally expected at the same time to offer such words of counsel and encouragement as the experience of the world might enable them to give to those who are entering life.
Having been myself when young rather prone to suffer from low spirits, I have at several of these gatherings taken the opportunity of dwelling on the privileges and blessings we enjoy, and I reprint here the substance of some of these addresses (omitting what was special to the circumstances of each case, and freely making any alterations and additions which have since occurred to me), hoping that the thoughts and quotations in which I have myself found most comfort may perhaps be of use to others also.
It is hardly necessary to say that I have not by any means referred to all the sources of happiness open to us, some indeed of the greatest pleasures and blessings being altogether omitted.
In reading over the proofs I feel that some sentences may appear too dogmatic, but I hope that allowance will be made for the circumstances under which they were delivered.
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