If there were profit in virtue, then would the noblest of men be
compelled to seek happiness elsewhere; and God would destroy their
main object in life were He to reward them often. Nothing is
indispensable, perhaps, or even necessary; and it may be that if the
joy of doing good for sake of good were taken from the soul, it
would find other, purer joys; but in the meantime, it is the most
beautiful joy we know, therefore let us respect it. Let us not
resent the misfortunes that sometimes befall virtue, lest we at the
same time disturb the limpid essence of its happiness. The soul that
has this happiness dreams no more of reward, than others expect
punishment because of their wickedness. They only are ever
clamouring for justice who know it not in their lives.

74. There is wisdom in the Hindu saying: "Work as they work, who are
ambitious. Respect life, as they respect it who desire it. Be happy,
as they are happy who live for happiness alone."

And this is indeed the central point of human wisdom--to act as
though each deed must bear wondrous, everlasting, fruit, and yet to
realise the insignificance of a just action before the universe; to
grasp the disproportion of things, and yet to march onwards as
though the proportions were established by man; to keep our eyes
fixed on the great sphere, and ourselves to move in the little
sphere with as much confidence and earnestness, with as much
assurance and satisfaction, as though the great sphere were
contained within it.

Is there need of illusion to keep alive our desire for good? then
must this desire stand confessed as foreign to the nature of man. It
is a mistake to imagine that the heart will long cherish within it