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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
not to mince the matter； I amif you will kindly let me！ That is to say； I
am going to ask you to attempt an experience which； while perfectly
natural and explicable； has all the air of a miracle。 My contention is that
the full use of those seven…and…a…half hours will quicken the whole life of
the week； add zest to it； and increase the interest which you feel in even
the most banal occupations。 You practise physical exercises for a mere ten
minutes morning and evening； and yet you are not astonished when your
physical health and strength are beneficially affected every hour of the day；
and your whole physical outlook changed。 Why should you be astonished
that an average of over an hour a day given to the mind should
permanently and completely enliven the whole activity of the mind？ More
time might assuredly be given to the cultivation of one's self。 And in
proportion as the time was longer the results would be greater。 But I prefer
to begin with what looks like a trifling effort。
It is not really a trifling effort； as those will discover who have yet to
essay it。 To 〃clear〃 even seven hours and a half from the jungle is passably
difficult。 For some sacrifice has to be made。 One may have spent one's
time badly； but one did spend it； one did do something with it； however ill…
advised that something may have been。 To do something else means a
change of habits。
And habits are the very dickens to change！ Further； any change； even a
change for the better； is always accompanied by drawbacks and
discomforts。 If you imagine that you will be able to devote seven hours
and a half a week to serious； continuous effort； and still live your old life；
you are mistaken。 I repeat that some sacrifice； and an immense deal of
volition； will be necessary。 And it is because I know the difficulty； it is
because I know the almost disastrous effect of failure in such an enterprise；
that I earnestly advise a very humble beginning。 You must safeguard your
self…respect。 Self…respect is at the root of all purposefulness； and a failure
in an enterprise deliberately planned deals a desperate wound at one's self…
respect。 Hence I iterate and reiterate： Start quietly； unostentatiously。
When you have conscientiously given seven hours and a half a week
to the cultivation of your vitality for three monthsthen you may begin to
sing louder and tell yourself what wondrous things you are capable of
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
doing。
Before coming to the method of using the indicated hours； I have one
final suggestion to make。 That is； as regards the evenings； to allow much
more than an hour and a half in which to do the work of an hour and a half。
Remember the chance of accidents。 Remember human nature。 And give
yourself； say； from 9 to 11。30 for your task of ninety minutes。
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
VII CONTROLLING THE MIND
People say： 〃One can't help one's thoughts。〃 But one can。 The control
of the thinking machine is perfectly possible。 And since nothing whatever
happens to us outside our own brain； since nothing hurts us or gives us
pleasure except within the brain； the supreme importance of being able to
control what goes on in that mysterious brain is patent。 This idea is one of
the oldest platitudes； but it is a platitude who's profound truth and urgency
most people live and die without realising。 People complain of the lack of
power to concentrate； not witting that they may acquire the power； if they
choose。
And without the power to concentratethat is to say； without the
power to dictate to the brain its task and to ensure obediencetrue life is
impossible。 Mind control is the first element of a full existence。
Hence； it seems to me； the first business of the day should be to put the
mind through its paces。 You look after your body； inside and out； you run
grave danger in hacking hairs off your skin； you employ a whole army of
individuals； from the milkman to the pig…killer； to enable you to bribe your
stomach into decent behaviour。 Why not devote a little attention to the far
more delicate machinery of the mind； especially as you will require no
extraneous aid？ It is for this portion of the art and craft of living that I
have reserved the time from the moment of quitting your door to the
moment of arriving at your office。
〃What？ I am to cultivate my mind in the street； on the platform； in the
train； and in the crowded street again？〃 Precisely。 Nothing simpler！ No
tools required！ Not even a book。 Nevertheless； the affair is not easy。
When you leave your house； concentrate your mind on a subject （no
matter what； to begin with）。 You will not have gone ten yards before your
mind has skipped away under your very eyes and is larking round the
corner with another subject。
Bring it back by the scruff of the neck。 Ere you have reached the
station you will have brought it back about forty times。 Do not despair。
Continue。 Keep it up。 You will succeed。 You cannot by any chance fail if
you persevere。 It is idle to pretend that your mind is incapable of
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
concentration。 Do you not remember that morning when you received a
disquieting letter which demanded a very carefully…worded answer？ How
you kept your mind steadily on the subject of the answer； without a
second's intermission； until you reached your office； whereupon you
instantly sat down and wrote the answer？ That was a case in which *you*
were roused by circumstances to such a degree of vitality that you were
able to dominate your mind like a tyrant。 You would have no trifling。 You
insisted that its work should be done； and its work was done。
By the regular practice of concentration （as to which there is no secret…
… save the secret of perseverance） you can tyrannise over your mind
（which is not the highest part of *you*） every hour of the day； and in no
matter what place。 The exercise is a very convenient one。 If you got into
your morning train with a pair of dumb…bells for your muscles or an
encyclopaedia in ten volumes for your learning； you would probably
excite remark。 But as you walk in the street； or sit in the corner of the
compartment behind a pipe； or 〃strap…hang〃 on the Subterranean； who is to
know that you are engaged in the most important of daily acts？ What
asinine boor can laugh at you？
I do not care what you concentrate on； so long as you concentrate。 It is
the mere disciplining of the thinking machine that counts。 But still； you
may as well kill two birds with one stone； and concentrate on something
useful。 I suggestit is only a suggestiona little chapter of Marcus
Aurelius or Epictetus。
Do not； I beg； shy at their names。 For myself； I know nothing more
〃actual；〃 more bursting with plain common…sense； applicable to the daily
life of plain persons like you and me （who hate airs； pose； and nonsense）
than Marcus Aurelius or Epictetus。 Read a chapterand so short they are；
the chapters！ in the evening and concentrate on it the next morning。 You
will see。
Yes； my friend； it is useless for you to try to disguise the fact。 I can
hear your brain like a telephone at my ear。 You are saying to yourself：
〃This fellow was doing pretty well up to his seventh chapter。 He had
begun to interest me faintly。 But what he says about thinking in trains； and
concen… tration； and so on； is not for me。 It may be well enough for some
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
folks； but it isn't in my line。〃
It is