Cato's Letters - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1737 edition. Excerpt: ... for the Blaze and Tumult of Public Life: A Taste to which I have the Pleasure of finding my own so intirely conformable. Qjjiet Passions and an easy Mind constitute Happiness; which is never found where these are nor, and must cede to be, when these cease to support it. Mighty Pomp and Retinue, glaring Equipages, and the Attendance of Crowds, are Signs, indeed Burdens, of Greatness.rather than Proofs of Happiness, which I doubt is least felt where these its Appearances are most seen. The piincipal Happiness which they seem to bring, is, that other People think them Marks of it; and very imperfect must be that Happiness which a Man derives, nor from what he himself feels, but from what another imagines. We may indeed be happy in our our own Dreams, but can never be happy by the Dreams of others. Happiest of all Men, to me, seems the Private Man; nor can the Opinion of ill-judging Crowds make him less happy, because they may think others more so. He who can live alone without Uneasiness, who can survey his past Life with Pleasure, who can look back without Compunction or Shame, forward without Fear of Rebuke; he, whose every Dayhath produced some Good, at least is passed with Innocence; the silent Benefactor, the ready and faithful Friend; he who is filled with secret Delight, because he feels his Heart full of Benevolence, who finds Pleasure in Relieving and Assisting; the Domestic Man, perhaps little talked of, perhaps less seen, beloved by a 3 his his Friends, trusted and esteemed by all that know him, often useful to such as know him not, enjoys such high Felicity as the Wealth of Kingdoms and the Bounty of Kings cannot confer. Imaginary Happiness is a poor Amends for the want of real. Nor can a better Reason than this be urged against...

John Trenchard C.Ss.R. is a Redemptorist with wide pastoral experience. He was ordained priest in 1971 and has led Parish Missions and Retreats throughout his priestly life. He worked with Redemptorist Publications for a number of years before being appointed their Publishing Director in 1981. During that time he wrote or co-wrote some of Redemptorist Publications outstanding titles. In 1987 he became a Parish Priest in the Westminster Diocese. He was elected as Redemptorist Provincial in England in 1997. Having served for nine years as Provincial he now returns to the role of Parish Priest, in London.