arnold bennet - how to live 24h

8/11/2019 Arnold Bennet - How to Live 24h

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PREFACE TO THIS EDITION

This preface, though placed at the begi i g, as a preface !ustbe,

should be read at the e d of the boo"#

I ha$e recei$ed a large a!ou t of correspo de ce co cer i g thiss!all %or", a d !a & re$ie%s of it''so!e of the! earl& as lo gas the boo" itself''ha$e bee pri ted# (ut scarcel& a & of theco!!e t has bee ad$erse# So!e people ha$e ob)ected to afri$olit& of to e* but as the to e is ot, i !& opi io , at allfri$olous, this ob)ectio did ot i!press !e* a d had o %eightierreproach bee put for%ard I !ight al!ost ha$e bee persuadedthatthe $olu!e %as +a%less A !ore serious stricture has, ho%e$er,bee o-ered'' ot i the press, but b& su dr& ob$iousl& si cerecorrespo de ts''a d I !ust deal %ith it# A refere ce to page ./

%ill sho% that I a ticipated a d feared this disapprobatio # These te ce agai st %hich protests ha$e bee !ade is as follo%s0''1I the !a)orit& of i sta ces he 2the t&pical !a 3 does otprecisel& feel a passio for his busi ess* at best he does ot disli"eit# He begi s his busi ess fu ctio s %ith so!e relucta ce, as lateas he ca , a d he e ds the! %ith )o&, as earl& as he ca # A d hise gi es, %hile he is e gaged i his busi ess, are seldo! at theirfull 4h#p#41

I a! assured, i acce ts of u !ista"able si cerit&, that there are!a & busi ess !e '' ot !erel& those i high positio s or %ith 5 eprospects, but !odest subordi ates %ith o hope of e$er bei g!uch better o-''%ho do e )o& their busi ess fu ctio s, %ho do otshir" the!, %ho do ot arri$e at the o6ce as late as possible a d

depart as earl& as possible, %ho, i a %ord, put the %hole of theirforce i to their da&4s %or" a d are ge ui el& fatigued at the e dthereof#

I a! read& to belie$e it# I do belie$e it# I " o% it# I al%a&s " e%it# (oth i 7o do a d i the pro$i ces it has bee !& lot to spe dlo g &ears i subordi ate situatio s of busi ess* a d the fact did

ot escape !e that a certai proportio of !& peers sho%ed %hata!ou ted to a ho est passio for their duties, a d that %hile

e gaged i those duties the& %ere reall& 8li$i g8 to the fulleste9te t of %hich the& %ere capable# (ut I re!ai co $i ced thatthese fortu ate a d happ& i di$iduals :happier perhaps tha the&guessed; did ot a d do ot co stitute a !a)orit&, or a &thi g li"e

a !a)orit I re!ai co $i ced that the !a)orit& of dece t a$erageco scie tious !e of busi ess :!e %ith aspiratio s a d ideals; doot as a rule go ho!e of a ight ge ui el& tired# I re!ai

co $i ced that the& put ot as !uch but as little of the!sel$es asthe& co scie tiousl& ca i to the ear i g of a li $elihood, a d thattheir $ocatio bores rather tha i terests the!#

Ne$ertheless, I ad!it that the !i orit& is of su6cie t i!porta ceto !erit atte tio , a d that I ought ot to ha$e ig ored it soco!pletel& as I did do# The %hole di6cult& of the hard'%or"i g!i orit& %as put i a si gle collo


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appeal !ost stro gl& to those %ho alread& had a i terest ie9iste ce# It is al%a&s the !a %ho has tasted life %ho de!a ds!ore of it# A d it is al%a&s the !a %ho e$er gets out of bed%ho is the !ost di6cult to rouse#

=ell, &ou of the !i orit&, let us assu!e that the i te sit& of &ourdail& !o e&'getti g %ill ot allo% &ou to carr& out


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CONTENTS

PREFACE,

I THE DAI7? >IRAC7E, B II THE DESIRE TO E CEED ONE4S PRO RA>>E, B III PRECAGTIONS (EFORE (E INNIN , / I THE CAGSE OF THE TROG(7E, .B TENNIS AND THE I>>ORTA7 SOG7, . I RE>E>(ER HG>AN NATGRE, J II CONTRO77IN THE >IND, JB III THE REF7ECTI E >OOD, J I INTEREST IN THE ARTS, KJ NOTHIN IN 7IFE IS HG>DRG>, /

I SERIOGS READIN , L II DAN ERS TO A OID, K

HO= TO 7I E ON T=ENT?'FOGR HOGRS A DA?

I THE DAI7? >IRAC7E

1?es, he4s o e of those !e that do 4t " o% ho% to !a age#ood situatio # Regular i co!e# Muite e ough for lu9uries

as %ell as eeds# Not reall& e9tra$aga t# A d &et the fello%4sal%a&s i di6culties# So!eho% he gets othi g out of his!o e E9celle t +at''half e!pt& Al%a&s loo"s as if he4d hadthe bro"ers i # Ne% suit''old hat >ag i5ce t ec"tie''bagg&trousers As"s &ou to di er0 cut glass''bad !utto , or Tur"ishco-ee''crac"ed cup He ca 4t u dersta d it# E9pla atio si!pl&is that he fritters his i co!e a%a =ish I had the half of it I4dsho% hi!''1

So %e ha$e !ost of us criticised, at o e ti!e or a other, i our

superior %a

=e are earl& all cha cellors of the e9che


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of %ealth, a d o aristocrac& of i tellect# e ius is e$er re%ardedb& e$ea e9tra hour a da A d there is o pu ish!e t# =aste &ouri 5 itel&

precious co!!odit& as !uch as &ou %ill, a d the suppl& %ill e$erbe%ithheld fro! &ou# >o !&sterious po%er %ill sa&0''1This !a is afool,if ot a " a$e# He does ot deser$e ti!e* he shall be cut o- at the!eter#1It is !ore certai tha co sols, a d pa&!e t of i co!e is ota-ected b&Su da&s# >oreo$er, &ou ca ot dra% o the future# I!possible toget i todebt ?ou ca o l& %aste the passi g !o!e t# ?ou ca ot %asteto'!orro%* it is "ept for &ou# ?ou ca ot %aste the e9t hour* it is

"ept for &ou#I said the a-air %as a !iracle# Is it ot@

?ou ha$e to li$e o this t%e t&'four hours of dail& ti!e# Out of it&ou ha$eto spi health, pleasure, !o e&, co te t, respect, a d thee$olutio of &our i!!ortal soul# Its right use, its !ost e-ecti$e use, is a !atter ofthe highesturge c& a d of the !ost thrilli g actualit All depe ds o that#

?ourhappi ess''the elusi$e pri e that &ou are all clutchi g for, !&frie ds ''depe ds o that# Stra ge that the e%spapers, so e terprisi ga d up'to'date as the& are, are ot full of 1Ho% to li$e o a gi$e i co!e ofti!e,1i stead of 1Ho% to li$e o a gi$e i co!e of !o e&1 >o e& is farco!!o er tha ti!e# =he o e re+ects, o e percei$es that!o e& is )ustabout the co!!o est thi g there is# It e cu!bers the earth igross heaps#

If o e ca 4t co tri$e to li$e o a certai i co!e of !o e&, o eear s alittle !ore''or steals it, or ad$ertises for it# O e does 4t ecessaril&!uddle o e4s life because o e ca 4t


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THE DESIRE TO E CEED ONE4S PRO RA>>E

1(ut,1 so!eo e !a& re!ar", %ith the E glish disregard ofe$er&thi ge9cept the poi t, 1%hat is he dri$i g at %ith his t%e t&'four hours ada&@I ha$e o di6cult& i li$i g o t%e t&'four hours a da I do all thatI%a t to do, a d still 5 d ti!e to go i for e%spaper co!petitio s#Surel&it is a si!ple a-air, " o%i g that o e has o l& t%e t&'four hours ada&, toco te t o e4s self %ith t%e t&'four hours a da& 1

To &ou, !& dear sir, I prese t !& e9cuses a d apologies# ?ou are

precisel&the !a that I ha$e bee %ishi g to !eet for about fort& &ears#=ill &ou"i dl& se d !e &our a!e a d address, a d state &our charge fortelli g !eho% &ou do it@ I stead of !e tal"i g to &ou, &ou ought to betal"i g to !e#Please co!e for%ard# That &ou e9ist, I a! co $i ced, a d that Iha$e ot&et e cou tered &ou is !& loss# >ea %hile, u til &ou appear, I %illco ti ueto chat %ith !& co!pa io s i distress''that i u!erable ba d ofsouls %hoare hau ted, !ore or less pai full&, b& the f eeli g that the &earsslip b&, a dslip b&, a d slip b&, a d that the& ha$e ot &et bee able to gettheir li$es i toproper %or"i g order#

If %e a al&se that feeli g, %e shall percei$e it to be, pri!aril&, o eofu easi ess, of e9pectatio , of loo"i g for%ard, of aspiratio # It is asource

of co sta t disco!fort, for it beha$es li"e a s"eleto at the feast ofall oure )o&!e ts# =e go to the theatre a d laugh* but bet%ee the actsit raises

a s"i & 5 ger at us# =e rush $iole tl& for the last trai , a d %hile%e arecooli g a lo g age o the platfor! %aiti g for the last trai , itpro!e adesits bo es up a d do% b& our side a d i ecca* he !a&dro%before he gets to Port Said* he !a& perish i gloriousl& o the coastof theRed Sea* his desire !a& re!ai eter all& frustrate# G ful5lledaspiratio!a& al%a&s trouble hi!# (ut he %ill ot be tor!e ted i the sa!e%a& asthe !a %ho, desiri g to reach >ecca, a d harried b& the desire toreach>ecca, e$er lea$es (ri9to #

It is so!ethi g to ha$e left (ri9to # >ost of us ha$e ot left(ri9to # =eha$e ot e$e ta"e a cab to 7udgate Circus a d i


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If %e further a al&se our $ague, u eas& aspiratio , %e shall, Ithi ", seethat it spri gs fro! a 59ed idea that %e ought to do so!ethi g iadditio

to those thi gs %hich %e are lo&all& a d !orall& obliged to do# =eareobliged, b& $arious codes %ritte a d u %ritte , to !ai taioursel$esa d our fa!ilies :if a &; i health a d co!fort, to pa& our debts, tosa$e,to i crease our prosperit& b& i creasi g our e6cie c A tas"su6cie tl&di6cult A tas" %hich $er& fe% of us achie$e A tas" ofte be&o dours"ill &et, if %e succeed i it, as %e so!eti!es do, %e are otsatis5ed* thes"eleto is still %ith us#

A d e$e %he %e realise tat the tas" is be&o d our s"ill, that ourpo%ersca ot cope %ith it, %e feel that %e should be less disco te ted if%e ga$eto our po%ers, alread& o$erta9ed, so!ethi g still further to do#

A d such is, i deed, the fact# The %ish to acco!plish so!ethi goutsidetheir for!al progra!!e is co!!o to all !e %ho i the course ofe$olutioha$e rise past a certai le$el#

G til a e-ort is !ade to satisf& that %ish, the se se of u eas&%aiti g forso!ethi g to start %hich has ot started %ill re!ai to disturb thepeace ofthe soul# That %ish has bee called b& !a & a!es# It is o e for!of theu i$ersal desire for " o%ledge# A d it is so stro g that !e %hose%holeli$es ha$e bee gi$e to the s&ste!atic ac


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u do e so!ethi g %hich &ou %ould li"e to do, a d %hich, i deed,&ou areal%a&s hopi g to do %he &ou ha$e 1!ore ti!e1* a d o% that Iha$e dra%

&our atte tio to the glari g, da li g truth that &ou e$er %illha$e 1!oreti!e,1 si ce &ou alread& ha$e all the ti !e there is''&ou e9pect !eto let &oui to so!e %o derful secret b& %hich &ou !a& at a & rate approachthe idealof a perfect arra ge!e t of the da&, a d b& %hich, therefore, thathau ti g,u pleasa t, dail& disappoi t!e t of thi gs left u do e %ill be gotrid of

I ha$e fou d o such %o derful secret# Nor do I e9pect to 5 d it,or do I

e9pect that a &o e else %ill e$er 5 d it# It is u disco$ered# =he&ou 5rstbega to gather !& drift, perhaps there %as a resurrectio of hopei &ourbreast# Perhaps &ou said to &ourself, 1This !a %ill sho% !e aeas&,u fatigui g %a& of doi g %hat I ha$e so lo g i $ai %ished to do#1Alas,

o The fact is that there is o eas& %a&, o ro&al road# The pathto >eccais e9tre!el& hard a d sto &, a d the %orst of it is that &ou e$er


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had e$er %asted or !isapplied a si gle !o!e t i all &our career#=hichfact is $er& gratif&i g a d reassuri g# ?ou ca tur o$er a e% leafe$er&

hour if &ou choose# Therefore o ob)ect is ser$ed i %aiti g tille9t %ee",or e$e u til to'!orro%# ?ou !a& fa c& that the %ater %ill be%ar!er e9t%ee"# It %o 4t# It %ill be colder#

(ut before &ou begi , let !e !ur!ur a fe% %ords of %ar i g i&our pri$ateear#

7et !e pri cipall& %ar &ou agai st &our o% ardour# Ardour i%ell'doi gis a !isleadi g a d a treacherous thi g# It cries out loudl& fore!plo&!e t*&ou ca 4t satisf& it at 5rst* it %a ts !ore a d !ore* it is eager to!o$e!ou tai s a d di$ert the course of ri$ers# It is 4t co te t till itperspires#A d the , too ofte , %he it feels the perspiratio o its bro%, it%eariesall of a sudde a d dies, %ithout e$e putti g itself to the troubleof sa&i g,1I4$ehad e ough of this#1

(e%are of u derta"i g too !uch at the start# (e co te t %ithost people %ho are rui ed are rui edb&

atte!pti g too !uch# Therefore, i setti g out o the i!!e see terpriseof li$i g full& a d co!fortabl& %ithi the arro% li!its of t%e t&'four

hours a da&, let us a$oid at a & cost the ris" of a earl& failure# I%ill otagree that, i this busi ess at a & rate, a glorious failure is bettertha apett& success# I a! all for the pett& success# A glorious failureleads to

othi g* a pett& success !a& lead to a success that is ot pett

So let us begi to e9a!i e the budget of the da&4s ti!e# ?ou sa&&ourda& is alread& full to o$er+o%i g# Ho%@ ?ou actuall& spe d iear i g&our li$elihood''ho% !uch@ Se$e hours, o the a$erage@ A d iactualsleep, se$e @ I %ill add t%o hours, a d be ge erous# A d I %illdef& &outo accou t to !e o the spur of the !o!e t for the other eighthours#

I

THE CAGSE OF THE TROG(7ES

I order to co!e to grips at o ce %ith the


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(ut if I ta"e the case of a 7o do er %ho %or"s i a o6ce, %hoseo6cehours are fro! te to si9, a d %ho spe ds 5ft& !i utes !or i ga d ight

i tra$elli g bet%ee his house door a d his o6ce door, I shallha$e got asear to the a$erage as facts per!it# There are !e %ho ha$e to

%or" lo gerfor a li$i g, but there are others %ho do ot ha$e to %or" so lo g#

Fortu atel& the 5 a cial side of e9iste ce does ot i terest ushere* for ourprese t purpose the cler" at a pou d a %ee" is e9actl& as %ell o-as the!illio aire i Carlto House'terrace#

No% the great a d profou d !ista"e %hich !& t&pical !a !a"esi regardto his da& is a !ista"e of ge eral attitude, a !ista"e %hich $itiatesa d%ea"e s t%o'thirds of his e ergies a d i terests# I the !a)orit& of i sta ceshe does ot precisel& feel a passio for his busi ess* at best hedoes ot disli"eit# He begi s his busi ess fu ctio s %ith relucta ce, as late as heca , a d hee ds the! %ith )o&, as earl& as he ca # A d his e gi es %hile he ise gagedi his busi ess are seldo! at their full 1h#p#1 :I " o% that I shall beaccusedb& a gr& readers of traduci g the cit& %or"er* but I a! prett&thoroughl&ac


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I read 5$e E glish a d t%o Fre ch dailies, a d the e%s'age tsalo e" o% ho% !a & %ee"lies, regularl I a! obliged to !e tio thisperso al

fact lest I should be accused of a pre)udice agai st e%spapers%he I sa&that I ob)ect to the readi g of e%spapers i the !or i g trai #Ne%spapersare produced %ith rapidit&, to be read %ith rapidit There is oplace i !&dail& progra!!e for e%spapers# I read the! as I !a& i odd!o!e ts#(ut I do read the!# The idea of de$oti g to the! thirt& or fort&co secuti$e!i utes of %o derful solitude :for o%here ca o e !ore perfectl&i!!erseo e4s self i o e4s self tha i a co!part!e t full of sile t,%ithdra% , s!o"i g!ales; is to !e repug a t# I ca ot possibl& allo% &ou to scatterpricelesspearls of ti!e %ith such Orie tal la$ish ess# ?ou are ot the Shahof ti!e#7et !e respectfull& re!i d &ou that &ou ha$e o !ore ti!e tha Iha$e# No

e%spaper readi g i trai s I ha$e alread& 1put b&1 about three'


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ha$e eo da A d here I !ust touch o the poi t %hether the %ee"shouldco sist of si9 da&s or of se$e # For !a & &ears''i fact, u til I %asapproachi gfort&''!& o% %ee" co sisted of se$e da&s# I %as co sta tl&bei g i for!edb& older a d %iser people that !ore %or", !ore ge ui e li$i g,could be gotout of si9 da&s tha out of se$e #

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A d it is certai l& true that o%, %ith o e da& i se$e i %hich Ifollo% oprogra!!e a d !a"e o e-ort sa$e %hat the caprice of the!o!e t dictates,

I appreciate i te sel& the !oral $alue of a %ee"l& rest#Ne$ertheless, had I!& life to arra ge o$er agai , I %ould do agai as I ha$e do e#O l& those%ho ha$e li$ed at the full stretch se$e da&s a %ee" for a lo g ti!ecaappreciate the full beaut& of a regular recurri g idle ess#>oreo$er, I a!agei g# A d it is a ore ti!e !ight assuredl& be gi$e to the culti$atio of o e4s self#A d i proportio as the ti!e %as lo ger the results %ould begreater#(ut I prefer to begi %ith %hat loo"s li"e a tri+i g e-ort#

It is ot reall& a tri+i g e-ort, as those %ill disco$er %ho ha$e &etto essa& it# To 1clear1 e$e se$e hours a d a half fro! the )u gleispassabl& di6cult# For so!e sacri5ce has to be !ade# O e !a&ha$espe t o e4s ti!e badl&, but o e did spe d it* o e did do so!ethi g%ith it, ho%e$er ill'ad$ised that so!ethi g !a& ha$e bee # To doso!ethi g else !ea s a cha ge of habits#

A d habits are the $er& dic"e s to cha ge Further, a & cha ge,e$ea cha ge for the better, i s al%a&s acco!pa ied b& dra%bac"s a ddisco!forts# If &ou i!agi e that &ou %ill be able to de$ote se$ehours a d a half a %ee" to serious, co ti uous e-ort, a d still l i$e&our old life, &ou are !ista"e # I repeat that so!e sacri5ce, a d ai!!e se deal of $olitio , %ill be ecessar A d it is because I" o%

13


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the di6cult&, it is because I " o% the al!ost disastrous e-ect offailurei such a e terprise, that I ear estl& ad$ise a $er& hu!blebegi i g#

?ou !ust safeguard &our self'respect# Self'respect is at the root ofallpurposeful ess, a d a failure i a e terprise deliberatel& pla eddealsa desperate %ou d at o e4s self'respect# He ce I iterate a dreiterate0Start IND

People sa&0 1O e ca 4t help o e4s thoughts#1 (ut o e ca # Theco trolof the thi "i g !achi e is perfectl& possible# A d si ce othi g%hate$er

happe s to us outside our o% brai * si ce othi g hurts us orgi$es uspleasure e9cept %ithi the brai , the supre!e i!porta ce of bei gable

to co trol %hat goes o i that !&sterious brai is pate t# Thisidea iso e of the oldest platitudes, but i t is a platitude %ho4s profou dtruth a durge c& !ost people li$e a d die %ithout realisi g# Peopleco!plai ofthe lac" of po%er to co ce trate, ot %itti g that the& !a& ac


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trai , a d i the cro%ded street agai @1 Precisel Nothi gsi!plerNo tools re


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i terest !e fai tl (ut %hat he sa&s about thi "i g i trai s, a dco ce 'tratio , a d so o , is ot for !e# It !a& be %ell e ough for so!efol"s,

but it is 4t i !& li e#1It is for &ou, I passio atel& repeat* it is for &ou# I deed, &ou are the$er&!a I a! ai!i g at#

Thro% a%a& the suggestio , a d &ou thro% a%a& the !ost precioussuggestio that %as e$er o-ered to &ou# It is ot !& suggestio # Itisthe suggestio of the !ost se sible, practical, hard'headed !e%hoha$e %al"ed the earth# I o l& gi$e it &ou at seco d'ha d# Tr& it#

et&our !i d i ha d# A d see ho% the process cures half the e$ils oflife''especiall& %orr&, that !iserable, a$oidable, sha!eful disease''%orr&

III

THE REF7ECTI E >OOD

The e9ercise of co ce trati g the !i d :to %hich at least half ahour ada& should be gi$e ; is a !ere preli!i ar&, li"e scales o thepia o#Ha$i g ac


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A d the& ha$e attai ed it b& realisi g that happi ess does otspri g fro!the procuri g of ph&sical or !e tal pleasure, but fro! thede$elop!e t of

reaso a d the ad)ust!e t of co duct to pri ciples#I suppose that &ou %ill ot ha$e the audacit& to de & this# A d if&ou ad!itit, a d still de$ote o part of &our da& to the deliberateco sideratio of &ourreaso , pri ciples, a d co duct, &ou ad!it also that %hile stri$i gfor acertai thi g &ou are regularl& lea$i g u do e the o e act %hich is

ecessar&to the attai !e t of that thi g#

No%, shall I blush, or %ill &ou@

Do ot fear that I !ea to thrust certai pri ciples upo &ouratte tio # I care

ot :i this place; %hat &our pri ciples are# ?our pri ciples !a&i duce &ou tobelie$e i the righteous ess of burglar I do 4t !i d# All I urge isthat a lifei %hich co duct does ot fairl& %ell accord %ith pri ciples is a sill&life* a dthat co duct ca o l& be !ade to accord %ith pri ciples b& !ea sof dail&e9a!i atio , re+ectio , a d resolutio # =hat leads to theper!a e t sorro%'ful ess of burglars is that their pri ciples are co trar& to burglarIf the&ge ui el& belie$ed i the !oral e9celle ce of burglar&, pe alser$itude %ouldsi!pl& !ea so !a & happ& &ears for the!* all !art&rs are happ&&ears forthe!* all !art&rs are happ&, because their co duct a d theirpri ciples agree#

As for reaso :%hich !a"es co duct, a d is ot u co ected %iththe !a"i gof pri ciples;, it pla&s a far s!aller part i our li$es tha %e fa c=e are

supposed to be reaso able but %e are !uch !ore i sti cti$e thareaso able#A d the less %e re+ect, the less reaso able %e shall be# The e9tti!e &ouget cross %ith the %aiter because &our stea" is o$er'coo"ed, as"reaso tostep i to the cabi et'roo! of &our !i d, a d co sult her# She %illprobabl&tell &ou that the %aiter did ot coo" the stea", a d had o co trolo$er thecoo"i g of the stea"* a d that e$e if he alo e %as to bla!e, &ouacco!plished

othi g good b& getti g cross* &ou !erel& lost &our dig it&, loo"eda fool ithe e&es of se sible !e , a d soured the %aiter, %hile produci g

o e-ect%hate$er o the stea"#

The result of this co sultatio %ith reaso :for %hich she !a"es ocharge;%ill be that %he o ce !ore &our stea" is o$er'coo"ed &ou %illtreat the%aiter as a fello%'creature, re!ai


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$aluable# (ut ot readi g of boo"s %ill ta"e the place of a dail&,ca did,ho est e9a!i atio of %hat o e has rece tl& do e, a d %hat o eis about

to do''of a stead& loo"i g at o e4s self i the f ace :disco certi gthoughthe sight !a& be;#

=he shall this i!porta t busi ess be acco!plished@ The solitudeof thee$e i g )our e& ho!e appears to !e to be suitable for it# Are+ecti$e!ood aturall& follo%s the e9ertio of ha$i g ear ed the da&4sli$i g#Of course if, i stead of atte di g to a ele!e tar& a d profou dl&i!porta tdut&, &ou prefer to read the paper :%hich &ou !ight )ust as %ellread %hile%aiti g for &our di er; I ha$e othi g to sa (ut atte d to it atso!e ti!eof the da& &ou !ust# I o% co!e to the e$e i g hours#

I

INTEREST IN THE ARTS

>a & people pursue a regular a d u i terrupted course of idle essithe e$e i gs because the& thi " that there is o alter ati$e toidle essbut the stud& of literature* a d the& do ot happe to ha$e a tasteforliterature# This is a great !ista"e#

Of course it is i!possible, or at a & rate $er& di6cult, properl& tostud&a &thi g %hate$er %ithout the aid of pri ted boo"s# (ut if &oudesire to

u dersta d the deeper depths of bridge or of boat'saili g &ou%ould otbe deterred b& &our lac" of i terest i l iterature fro! readi g thebest

boo"s o bridge or boat'saili g# =e !ust, therefore, disti guishbet%eeliterature, a d boo"s treati g of sub)ects ot literar I shall co!etoliterature i due course#

7et !e o% re!ar" to those %ho ha$e e$er read >eredith, a d%ho arecapable of bei g u !o$ed b& a discussio as to %hether >r#StephePhillips is or is ot a true poet, that the& are perfectl& %ithi theirrights#It is ot a cri!e ot to lo$e literature# It is ot a sig of i!becilit

The!a dari s of literature %ill order out to i sta t e9ecutio theu fortu atei di$idual %ho does ot co!prehe d, sa&, the i +ue ce of=ords%orth o

Te &so # (ut that is o l& their i!pude ce# =here %ould the& be,I %o der,if re


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o$erture;, a d &ou e )o& the !usic# (ut &ou sa& &ou ca ot pla&thepia o or the 5ddle, or e$e the ba )o* that &ou " o% othi g of!usic#

=hat does that !atter@ That &ou ha$e a ge ui e taste for !usic ispro$ed b& the fact that, i order to 5ll his hall %ith &ou a d &ourpeers,the co ductor is obliged to pro$ide progra!!es fro! %hich bad!usicis al!ost e tirel& e9cluded :a cha ge fro! the old Co$e t ardeda&s ;#

No% surel& &our i abilit& to perfor! 1The >aide 4s Pra&er1 o apia o

eed ot pre$e t &ou fro! !a"i g &ourself fa!iliar %ith theco structioof the orchestra to %hich &ou liste a couple of ights a %ee"duri g acouple of !o ths As thi gs are, &ou probabl& thi " of theorchestra as aheteroge eous !ass of i stru!e ts produci g a co fusedagreeable !assof sou d# ?ou do ot liste for details because &ou ha$e e$ertrai ed&our ears to liste to details#

If &ou %ere as"ed to a!e the i stru!e ts %hich pla& the greatthe!e atthe begi i g of the C !i or s&!pho & &ou could ot a!e the!for &ourlife4s sa"e# ?et &ou ad!ire the C !i or s&!pho It has thrilled&ou# It%ill thril l &ou agai # ?ou ha$e e$e tal"ed about it, i a e9pa si$e!ood,to that lad&''&ou " o% %ho! I !ea # A d all &ou ca positi$el&stateabout the C !i or s&!pho & is that (eetho$e co!posed it a dthat it isa 1)oll& 5 e thi g#1

No%, if &ou ha$e read, sa&, >r# Qrehbiel4s 1Ho% to 7iste to >usic1:%hichca be got at a & boo"seller4s for less tha the price of a stall atthe Alha!bra,

a d %hich co tai s photographs of all the orchestral i stru!e tsa d pla s ofthe arra ge!e t of orchestras; &ou %ould e9t go to a pro!e adeco cert %itha asto ishi g i te si5catio of i terest i it# I stead of aco fused !ass, theorchestra %ould appear to &ou as %hat it is''a !ar$ellousl&bala ced orga is!%hose $arious groups of !e!bers each ha$e a di-ere t a d ai dispe sablefu ctio # ?ou %ould sp& out the i stru!e ts, a d liste for theirrespecti$esou ds# ?ou %ould " o% the gulf that separates a Fre ch horfro! a E glishhor , a d &ou %ould percei$e %h& a pla&er of the hautbo& getshigher %agestha a 5ddler, though the 5ddle is the !ore di6cult i stru!e t#

?ou %ould8li$e8 at a pro!e ade co cert, %hereas pre$iousl& &ou had !erel&e9istedthere i a state of beati5c co!a, li"e a bab& ga i g at a brightob)ect#

The fou datio s of a ge ui e, s&ste!atic " o%ledge of !usic!ight be laid#

?ou !ight specialise &our i aide 4s Pra&er1 o thepia o#

19


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(ush# (ut to a certai poi t %e are all scie ti5c stude ts of causea d e-ect,a d there %as ot a cler" lu chi g at a 7&o s Restaura t %ho did

ot scie ti'5call& put t%o a d t%o together a d see i the :o ce; T%o'pe &

Tube thecause of a e9cessi$e de!a d for %ig%a!s i Shepherd4s (ush,a d i thee9cessi$e de!a d for %ig%a!s the cause of the i crease i theprice of%ig%a!s#

1Si!ple 1 &ou sa&, disdai full E$er&thi g'the %hole co!ple9!o$e!e tof the u i$erse'is as si!ple as that'%he &ou ca su6cie tl& putt%o a dt%o together# A d, !& dear sir, perhaps &ou happe to be aestate age t4scler", a d &ou hate the arts, a d &ou %a t to foster &our i!!ortalsoul, a d&ou ca 4t be i terested i &our busi ess because it4s so hu!dru!#

Nothi g is hu!dru!#

The tre!e dous, cha geful pictures


22/25

I pro!ised to deal %ith &our case, O !a %ho hates art a dliterature, a dI ha$e dealt %ith it# I o% co!e to the case of the perso , happil&$er&co!!o , %ho does 1li"e readi g#1

I

SERIOGS READIN

No$els are e9cluded fro! 1serious readi g,1 so that the !a %ho,be t oself'i!pro$e!e t, has bee decidi g to de$ote i et& !i utesthree ti!esa %ee" to a co!plete stud& of the %or"s of Charles Dic"e s %ill be%ellad$ised to alter his pla s# The reaso is ot that o$els are otserious''so!e of the great literature of the %orld is i the for! of prose5ctio ''the reaso is that bad o$els ought ot to be read, a d that good

o$else$er de!a d a & appreciable !e tal applicatio o the part of

the reader#It is o l& the bad parts of >eredith4s o$els that are di6cult# Agood o$elrushes &ou for%ard li"e a s"i- do% a strea!, a d &ou arri$e at thee d,perhaps breathless, but u e9hausted# The best o$els i $ol$e theleaststrai # No% i the culti$atio of the !i d o e of the !osti!porta t factorsis precisel& the feeli g of strai , of di6cult&, of a tas" %hich o epart of &ouis a 9ious to achie$e a d a other part of &ou is a 9ious to shir"*a d that f eeli g ca ot be got i faci g a o$el# ?ou do ot set &our teeth iorder to

read 1A a Qare i a#1 Therefore, though &ou should read o$els,&ou should

ot read the! i those i et& !i utes#

I!agi ati$e poetr& produces a far greater !e tal strai thao$els# It

produces probabl& the se$erest strai of a & for! of literature# Itis thehighest for! of literature# It &ields the highest for! of pleasure,a dteaches the highest for! of %isdo!# I a %ord, there is othi g toco!pare %ith it# I sa& this %ith sad co scious ess of the fact thatthe!a)orit& of people do ot read poetr

I a! persuaded that !a & e9celle t perso s, if the& %ereco fro ted%ith the alter ati$es of readi g 1Paradise 7ost1 a d goi g rou d

Trafalgar S


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a &thi g b& eorge Eliot or the (ro tes, or e$e a e Auste ,%hichperhaps &ou ha$e ot read# Its title is 1Aurora 7eigh,1 a d itsauthorE#(# (ro% i g# It happe s to be %ritte i $erse, a d to co tai aco siderable a!ou t of ge ui el& 5 e poetr Decide to read thatboo" through, e$e if &ou die for it# Forget that it is 5 e poetrRead it si!pl& for the stor& a d the social ideas# A d %he &ouha$e do e, as" &ourself ho estl& %hether &ou still disli"e poetrI ha$e " o% !ore tha o e perso to %ho! 1Aurora 7eigh1 hasbee the !ea s of pro$i g that i assu!i g the& hated poetr&the&%ere e tirel& !ista"e #

Of course, if, after Ha litt, a d such a e9peri!e t !ade i thelightof Ha litt, &ou are 5 all& assured that there is so!ethi g i &ou%hichis a tago istic to poetr&, &ou !ust be co te t %ith histor& orphilosophI shall regret it, &et ot i co solabl 1The Decli e a d Fall1 is otto be

a!ed i the sa!e da& %ith 1Paradise 7ost,1 but it is a $astl&prett& thi g*a d Herbert Spe cer4s 1First Pri ciples1 si!pl& laughs at the clai!sofpoetr& a d refuses to be accepted as aught but the !ost !a)esticproductof a & hu!a !i d# I do ot suggest that either of these %or"s issuitablefor a t&ro i !e tal strai s# (ut I see o reaso %h& a & !a of

a$eragei tellige ce should ot, after a &ear of co ti uous readi g, be 5t toassaultthe supre!e !asterpieces of histor& or philosoph The greatco $e ie ceof !asterpieces is that the& are so asto ishi gl& lucid#

I suggest o particular %or" as a start# The atte!pt %ould be futilei the

space of !& co!!a d# (ut I ha$e t%o ge eral suggestio s of acertaii!porta ce# The 5rst is to de5 e the directio a d scope of &oure-orts#Choose a li!ited period, or a li!ited sub)ect, or a si gle author#Sa& to&ourself0 1I %ill " o% so!ethi g about the Fre ch Re$olutio , ortherise of rail%a&s, or the %or"s of oh Qeats#1 A d duri g a gi$eperiod,to be settled beforeha d, co 5 e &ourself to &our choice# There is!uchpleasure to be deri$ed fro! bei g a specialist#

The seco d suggestio is to thi " as %ell as to read# I " o% people%horead a d read, a d for all the good it does the! the& !ight )ust as%ellcut bread'a d'butter# The& ta"e to readi g as better !e ta"e todri "#

The& +& through the shires of literature o a !otor'car, their soleob)ectbei g !otio # The& %ill tell &ou ho% !a & boo"s the& ha$e read ia &ear#

G less &ou gi$e at least fort&'5$e !i utes to careful, fatigui gre+ectio:it is a a%ful bore at 5rst; upo %hat &ou are readi g, &our i et&!i utesof a ight are chie+& %asted# This !ea s that &our pace %ill beslo%#

Ne$er !i d#

Forget the goal* thi " o l& of the surrou di g cou tr&* a d after aperiod,perhaps %he &ou least e9pect it, &ou %ill sudde l& 5 d &ourself ia lo$el&to% o a hill#

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II

DAN ERS TO A OID

I ca ot ter!i ate these hi ts, ofte , I fear, too didactic a dabrupt, upothe full use of o e4s ti!e to the great e d of li$i g :as disti guishedfro!$egetati g; %ithout brie+& referri g to certai da gers %hich lie i%aitfor the si cere aspira t to%ards life# The 5rst is the terrible da gerofbeco!i g that !ost odious a d least supportable of perso s''aprig#No% a prig is a pert fello% %ho gi$es hi!self airs of superior%isdo!#A prig is a po!pous fool %ho has go e out for a cere!o ial %al",a d%ithout " o%i g it has lost a i!porta t part of his attire, a!el&,hisse se of hu!our# A prig is a tedious i di$idual %ho, ha$i g !ade adisco$er&, is so i!pressed b& his disco$er& that he is capable ofbei ggra$el& displeased because the e tire %orld is ot also i!pressedb& it#G co sciousl& to beco!e a prig is a eas& a d a fatal thi g#

He ce, %he o e sets forth o the e terprise of usi g all o e4sti!e, it is

)ust as %ell to re!e!ber that o e4s o% ti!e, a d ot otherpeople4s ti!e,is the !aterial %ith %hich o e has to deal* that the earth rolled oprett&co!fortabl& before o e bega to bala ce a budget of the hours,a d that it%ill co ti ue to roll o prett& co!fortabl& %hether or ot o esucceeds io e4s e% role of cha cellor of the e9che


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A d still a other da ger is the da ger of de$elopi g a polic& ofrush, ofbei g graduall& !ore a d !ore obsessed b& %hat o e has to do

e9t# Ithis %a& o e !a& co!e to e9ist as i a priso , a d o es life !a&cease tobe o e4s o% # O e !a& ta"e the dog out for a %al" at eighto4cloc", a d!editate the %hole ti!e o the fact that o e !ust begi to read ata

arnold bennet - how to live 24h

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