The Happy Man

(This essay, written by Bertrand Russell, is taken from Twentieth Century Prose in Dr. V. Sachithanandan, Ed.)

What kind of man is the happy man?

The happy man is the one who:

• as a child is raised by loving and caring parents, in a free and secured environment.
• is provided exam-free education and course of study of his choice and natural bent of mind.
• is provided with the opportunities for literature, music and painting with the sole purpose of getting pleasure.
• is brought up in youth without a twin obsessions of sin and fear.
• has opportunity of adventure to make his life more exciting.
• in his adulthood, has good economic condition and happy temperament too, due to which he makes many friends, enjoys his works, feels affections for his children, and passes through his middle years without the sense of frustration and failure.
• in the old age, can look back upon his life without remorse and undue regrets.
• and during his old age, avoids undue absorption in the past memories and avoids taking unnecessary interest in his grown-up children who want to live their own lives without interference from their parents.
• finally, sees life as a river that keeps flowing, and so has no fear of death, and stays content with whatsoever achievements of his life.