[Gutenberg 12887] • Laugh and Live

Genius, Initiative, LIFE, Laugh, Intellect, Energy, Success

AUTHOR’S FOREWORD

In Laugh and Live, my sole purpose was to emphasize our first duty toward ourselves, which consists of doing our level best at everything we undertake, and making the best of every situation that arises to confront us.

All through my early life I read inspirational books and liked them best of all. They seemed to beckon me on. I could feel myself being pulled along by an unseen hand.

Let there be no mistake about Making Life Worth While. It has no particular plan or sequence whereby to back up its title. Nearly everything has to do with such a subject and that is what the book contains—everything in general—and nothing in particular—just such things as came to mind that seemed worth while.

As a follow up to Laugh and Live here’s hoping that it will fill the bill.

D. F.

CHAPTER I. LITTLE GRAINS OF SAND

Holding down a seat in the rocking chair fleet out on the shady piazza is most certainly not making the most out of life.

We all remember the line—“If wishes were fishes we’d have some fried.” That is the answer to those who rock and dream, and hope for something to turn up instead of turning up something on their own account.

Of course, there is a time for everything, even the stealthy, creeping rocking chair—and that’s about bedtime. In the estimation of an eminent neurologist there is no crime against nature in the home that cannot be traced to this monstrous thief of time, which, while apparently screeching and groaning under its load, is, in reality, shouting with joy at the job it is putting up on its occupant.

Taking the most out of life is the proper label for this old squeaker—breeder of idle contentment, day-dreams, inertia. Like everything else that saps the energy from mind and body, it counts its victims by the score, and throws them up on the sands of time.

CONTENTS OF MAKING LIFE WORTH WHILE

Little Grains of Sand

As the Twig Is Bent

The New Order of Living

Feeding the Intellect

Backing Up the Flag

Half-Baked Knowledge

Harnessing the Brain

Exalting the Ego

Genius Plus Initiative

The Big Four

Applying the Rule of Reason

Through Difficulties to the Stars

In Answer to Many Friends

Things That Money Won’t Buy

The Boy Across the Sea

Superior—Superiority—Super

When the Boys Come Home

Regeneration

CONTENTS OF LIVE AND LAUGH

"Whistle and Hoe. Sing As We Go"

Taking Stock of Ourselves

Advantages of an Early Start

Profiting by Experience

Energy, Success and Laughter

Building Up a Personality

Honesty, the Character Builder

Cleanliness of Body and Mind

Consideration for Others

Keeping Ourselves Democratic

Self-Education by Good Reading

Physical and Mental Preparedness

Self-indulgence and Failure

Living Beyond Our Means

Initiative and Self-Reliance

Failure to Seize Opportunities

Assuming Responsibilities

Wedlock in Time

Laugh and Live

A "CLOSE-UP" OF DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS