The Cossacks
Ratings13
Average rating3.8
He began thinking of his former life and felt disgusted with him-self. He had been such an egoist, when he really had not needed any-thing. He kept looking around at the translucent foliage, the setting sun, and the clear sky, and felt as happy as he had that first moment. "Why am I happy, and what did I live for in the past?" he thought. "How I used to want everything for myself, how I schemed, all for nothing but shame and sorrow! But I see I don't need anything to be happy!" Suddenly it was as if a new world had opened. "This is what happiness is!" he said to himself. "Happiness is to live for others. How clear it is. The need for happiness is within every man-so happiness must be legitimate. One might try to attain happiness selfishly-in other words, seek riches, glory, luxury, and love-and yet circumstances might not allow one to attain these things. So these are the things that aren't legitimate, not the need for happiness. But what can always be attained, regardless of circumstances? Love and selflessness!"
He was filled with such joy and excitement at discovering this new truth that he jumped up, and in his impatience began wondering who he could sacrifice himself for, who he could do good to, who he could love. "As one needs nothing for oneself, why not live for others?" he thought.
He began thinking of his former life and felt disgusted with him-self. He had been such an egoist, when he really had not needed any-thing. He kept looking around at the translucent foliage, the setting sun, and the clear sky, and felt as happy as he had that first moment. "Why am I happy, and what did I live for in the past?" he thought. "How I used to want everything for myself, how I schemed, all for nothing but shame and sorrow! But I see I don't need anything to be happy!" Suddenly it was as if a new world had opened. "This is what happiness is!" he said to himself. "Happiness is to live for others. How clear it is. The need for happiness is within every man-so happiness must be legitimate. One might try to attain happiness selfishly-in other words, seek riches, glory, luxury, and love-and yet circumstances might not allow one to attain these things. So these are the things that aren't legitimate, not the need for happiness. But what can always be attained, regardless of circumstances? Love and selflessness!"
He was filled with such joy and excitement at discovering this new truth that he jumped up, and in his impatience began wondering who he could sacrifice himself for, who he could do good to, who he could love. "As one needs nothing for oneself, why not live for others?" he thought.
He began thinking of his former life and felt disgusted with him-self. He had been such an egoist, when he really had not needed any-thing. He kept looking around at the translucent foliage, the setting sun, and the clear sky, and felt as happy as he had that first moment. "Why am I happy, and what did I live for in the past?" he thought. "How I used to want everything for myself, how I schemed, all for nothing but shame and sorrow! But I see I don't need anything to be happy!" Suddenly it was as if a new world had opened. "This is whar happiness is!" he said to himself. "Happiness is to live for others. How clear it is. The need for happiness is within every man-so happiness must be legitimate. One might try to attain happiness selfishly-in other words, seek riches, glory, luxury, and love-and yet circumstances might not allow one to attain these things. So these are the things that aren't legitimate, not the need for happiness. But what can always be attained, regardless of circumstances? Love and selflessness!"
He was filled with such joy and excitement at discovering this new truth that he jumped up, and in his impatience began wondering who he could sacrifice himself for, who he could do good to, who he could love. "As one needs nothing for oneself, why not live for others?" he thought.
He began thinking of his former life and felt disgusted with him-self. He had been such an egoist, when he really had not needed any-thing. He kept looking around at the translucent foliage, the setting sun, and the clear sky, and felt as happy as he had that first moment. "Why am I happy, and what did I live for in the past?" he thought. "How I used to want everything for myself, how I schemed, all for nothing but shame and sorrow! But I see I don't need anything to be happy!" Suddenly it was as if a new world had opened. "This is whar happiness is!" he said to himself. "Happiness is to live for others. How clear it is. The need for happiness is within every man-so happiness must be legitimate. One might try to attain happiness selfishly-in other words, seek riches, glory, luxury, and love-and yet circumstances might not allow one to attain these things. So these are the things that aren't legitimate, not the need for happiness. But what can always be attained, regardless of circumstances? Love and selflessness!"
He was filled with such joy and excitement at discovering this new truth that he jumped up, and in his impatience began wondering who he could sacrifice himself for, who he could do good to, who he could love. "As one needs nothing for oneself, why not live for others?" he thought.
