"I hold that life is intensely painful but that the good man does not complain."From Cards of Identity . If I ever go secular again, I fear I may end up like this butler.
"I suppose you read that in a book?"
"No, sir. It struck me quite personally."
"Then your idea of perfect happiness is to meet the maximum of pain with the minimum of complaint?"
"Exactly that, sir. I despise the softness of modern life."
"Well, you look well enough on your philosophy, I must say. And you never feel the want of a more up-to-date establishment than this one? A gaslight in the pantry, for instance?"
"Gaslight is only an illusion, sir; it is no help to the soul."
"You are a devout man?"
"Unfortunately, no, sir. Although I deeply respect those who . . . "
"Yes, I’ve heard that one before. I must say, you seem to have chosen the worst of both worlds. Surely you should try and have either God or a gas-fitting? To reject both seems foolhardy."
"Not according to my philosophy, sir."
"That’s true, of course. Without serious deprivation, you would hardly know yourself."
"Exactly, sir. Pain is the spur."
"And do you expect no reward for all of this?"
"I feel that a reward would spoil everything, sir."
Topic for discussion: does it make sense to think of this man as an ascetic if his renunciation isn’t directed toward some higher authority?
