this weariness would spur us to seek a more solid means of
escaping from it. But diversion amuses us, and leads us unconsciously to
death.
172. We do not rest satisfied with the present. We anticipate the future
as
too slow in coming, as if in order to hasten its course; or we recall the
past, to stop its too rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander in
the times which are not ours and do not think of the only one which
belongs
to us; and so idle are we that we dream of those times which are no more
and
thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists. For the present is
generally
painful to us. We conceal it from our sight, because it troubles us; and,
if
it be delightful to us, we regret to see it pass away. We try to sustain
it
by the future and think of arranging matters which are not in our power,
for
a time which we have no certainty of reaching.
Let each one examine his thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with
the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present; and if we
think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future. The
present is never our end. The past and the present are our means; the
future
alone is our end. So we never live, but we hope to live; and, as we are
always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable we should never be so.
173. They say that eclipses foretoken misfortune, because misfortunes are
common, so that, as evil happens so often, they often foretell it; whereas
if they said that they predict good fortune, they would often be wrong.
They
attribute good fortune only to rare conjunctions of the heavens;
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