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upon the full use of one's time to the great end of living （as distinguished
from vegetating） without briefly referring to certain dangers which lie in
wait for the sincere aspirant towards life。 The first is the terrible danger of
becoming that most odious and least supportable of personsa prig。 Now a
prig is a pert fellow who gives himself airs of superior wisdom。 A prig is a
pompous fool who has gone out for a ceremonial walk； and without
knowing it has lost an important part of his attire； namely； his sense of
humour。 A prig is a tedious individual who； having made a discovery； is so
impressed by his discovery that he is capable of being gravely displeased
because the entire world is not also impressed by it。 Unconsciously to
become a prig is an easy and a fatal thing。
Hence； when one sets forth on the enterprise of using all one's time； it
is just as well to remember that one's own time； and not other people's
time； is the material with which one has to deal； that the earth rolled on
pretty comfortably before one began to balance a budget of the hours； and
that it will continue to roll on pretty comfortably whether or not one
succeeds in one's new role of chancellor of the exchequer of time。 It is as
well not to chatter too much about what one is doing； and not to betray a
too…pained sadness at the spectacle of a whole world deliberately wasting
so many hours out of every day； and therefore never really living。 It will
be found； ultimately； that in taking care of one's self one has quite all one
can do。
Another danger is the danger of being tied to a programme like a slave
to a chariot。 One's programme must not be allowed to run away with one。
It must be respected； but it must not be worshipped as a fetish。 A
programme of daily employ is not a religion。
This seems obvious。 Yet I know men whose lives are a burden to
themselves and a distressing burden to their relatives and friends simply
because they have failed to appreciate the obvious。 〃Oh； no；〃 I have heard
the martyred wife exclaim； 〃Arthur always takes the dog out for exercise
at eight o'clock and he always begins to read at a quarter to nine。 So it's
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
quite out of the question that we should。 。 。〃 etc。； etc。 And the note of
absolute finality in that plaintive voice reveals the unsuspected and
ridiculous tragedy of a career。
On the other hand； a programme is a programme。 And unless it is
treated with deference it ceases to be anything but a poor joke。 To treat
one's programme with exactly the right amount of deference； to live with
not too much and not too little elasticity； is scarcely the simple affair it
may appear to the inexperienced。
And still another danger is the danger of developing a policy of rush；
of being gradually more and more obsessed by what one has to do next。 In
this way one may come to exist as in a prison； and ones life may cease to
be one's own。 One may take the dog out for a walk at eight o'clock； and
meditate the whole time on the fact that one must begin to read at a quarter
to nine； and that one must not be late。
And the occasional deliberate breaking of one's programme will not
help to mend matters。 The evil springs not from persisting without
elasticity in what one has attempted； but from originally attempting too
much； from filling one's programme till it runs over。 The only cure is to
reconstitute the programme； and to attempt less。
But the appetite for knowledge grows by what it feeds on； and there
are men who come to like a constant breathless hurry of endeavour。 Of
them it may be said that a constant breathless hurry is better than an
eternal doze。
In any case； if the programme exhibits a tendency to be oppressive；
and yet one wishes not to modify it； an excellent palliative is to pass with
exaggerated deliberation from one portion of it to another； for example； to
spend five minutes in perfect mental quiescence between chaining up the
St。 Bernard and opening the book； in other words； to waste five minutes
with the entire consciousness of wasting them。
The last； and chiefest danger which I would indicate； is one to which I
have already referredthe risk of a failure at the commencement of the
enterprise。
I must insist on it。
A failure at the commencement may easily kill outright the newborn
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
impulse towards a complete vitality； and therefore every precaution should
be observed to avoid it。 The impulse must not be over…taxed。 Let the pace
of the first lap be even absurdly slow； but let it be as regular as possible。
And； having once decided to achieve a certain task； achieve it at all
costs of tedium and distaste。 The gain in self…confidence of having
accomplished a tiresome labour is immense。
Finally； in choosing the first occupations of those evening hours； be
guided by nothing whatever but your taste and natural inclination。
It is a fine thing to be a walking encyclopaedia of philosophy； but if
you happen to have no liking for philosophy； and to have a like for the
natural history of street…cries； much better leave philosophy alone； and
take to street…cries。
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