Being good has its share of tedium, difficulties, and irritation. I have found, however, there is a point when suddenly the divine aspect of it overflows into my soul, and happiness is the result. There’s no happiness like the divinely inspired; it seizes the thoughts and the feeling in the belly, like a most satisfying meal. And best of all, it means you’re on the right track.
We all have our goals in life, our objectives. When we do something that furthers them, we get a certain satisfaction, if not happiness directly. But of course, that’s not the whole story of life. There are concomitant trials, rough times, but we survive. It’s something like outliving your enemies. It’s related to getting an eternal reward, which is not a hopeless end. If man can think of it, it’s possible–that’s the way our brains are made.
But the real motive for being good is gratitude. Who gave me all this? Sure there’s bad mixed in with the good. But do you ever eat a peach without a pit? Given nuts, don’t you usually have to shell them? And if somebody does that for you, don’t you have to pay for it? Know how to deal with life–another gift!
Civilization 