صفحة 667 من 734

[30] But why give materials and instruments, if there is no work

to do?

[31] The supposed pair of ancestors.

[32] Solon says, "Call no man happy till he is dead." He must

mean either, The man when dead is happy (a), or, The man when

dead _may be said to have been happy_ (b). If the former, does he

mean positive happiness (a)? or only freedom from unhappiness

(β)? We cannot allow (a), Men's opinions disallow (β), We revert

now to the consideration of (b).

[33] The difficulty was raised by the clashing of a notion

commonly held, and a fact universally experienced. Most people

conceive that Happiness should be abiding, every one knows that

fortune is changeable. It is the notion which supports the

definition, because we have therein based Happiness on the most

abiding cause.