Optimism
Optimism
An Essay
By Helen Keller
Author of
“The Story of My Life”
New York
T. Y. Crowell and Company
Mdcccciii
Copyright, 1903, by Helen Keller
Published November, 1903
D. B. Updike, The Merrymount Press, Boston
To My Teacher
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Part i | |
| Optimism Within | 11 |
| Part ii | |
| Optimism Without | 25 |
| Part iii | |
| The Practice of Optimism | 53 |
Part i. Optimism Within
Part i[11]
Optimism Within
ould we choose our environment,and were desire inhuman undertakings synonymouswith endowment, all menwould, I suppose, be optimists. Certainlymost of us regard happinessas the proper end of all earthly enterprise.The will to be happy animatesalike the philosopher, theprince and the chimney-sweep. Nomatter how dull, or how mean, orhow wise a man is, he feels that happinessis his indisputable right.
It is curious to observe what different[12]ideals of happiness people cherish,and in what singular places theylook for this well-spring of their life.Many look for it in the hoarding ofriches, some in the pride of power,and others in the achievements ofart and literature; a few seek it inthe exploration of their own minds,or in the search for knowledge.
Most people measure their happinessin terms of physical pleasureand material possession. Could theywin some visible goal which theyhave set on the horizon, how happythey would be! Lacking this gift orthat circumstance, they would bemiserable. If happiness is to be someasured, I who cannot hear or seehave every reason to sit in a cornerwith folded hands and weep. If I amhappy in spite of my deprivations, ifmy happiness is so deep that it is afaith, so thoughtful that it becomesa philosophy of life,—if, in