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the oldest platitudes； but it is a platitude who's profound truth and urgency
most people live and die without realising。 People complain of the lack of
power to concentrate； not witting that they may acquire the power； if they
choose。
And without the power to concentratethat is to say； without the
power to dictate to the brain its task and to ensure obediencetrue life is
impossible。 Mind control is the first element of a full existence。
Hence； it seems to me； the first business of the day should be to put the
mind through its paces。 You look after your body； inside and out； you run
grave danger in hacking hairs off your skin； you employ a whole army of
individuals； from the milkman to the pig…killer； to enable you to bribe your
stomach into decent behaviour。 Why not devote a little attention to the far
more delicate machinery of the mind； especially as you will require no
extraneous aid？ It is for this portion of the art and craft of living that I
have reserved the time from the moment of quitting your door to the
moment of arriving at your office。
〃What？ I am to cultivate my mind in the street； on the platform； in the
train； and in the crowded street again？〃 Precisely。 Nothing simpler！ No
tools required！ Not even a book。 Nevertheless； the affair is not easy。
When you leave your house； concentrate your mind on a subject （no
matter what； to begin with）。 You will not have gone ten yards before your
mind has skipped away under your very eyes and is larking round the
corner with another subject。
Bring it back by the scruff of the neck。 Ere you have reached the
station you will have brought it back about forty times。 Do not despair。
Continue。 Keep it up。 You will succeed。 You cannot by any chance fail if
you persevere。 It is idle to pretend that your mind is incapable of
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
concentration。 Do you not remember that morning when you received a
disquieting letter which demanded a very carefully…worded answer？ How
you kept your mind steadily on the subject of the answer； without a
second's intermission； until you reached your office； whereupon you
instantly sat down and wrote the answer？ That was a case in which *you*
were roused by circumstances to such a degree of vitality that you were
able to dominate your mind like a tyrant。 You would have no trifling。 You
insisted that its work should be done； and its work was done。
By the regular practice of concentration （as to which there is no secret…
… save the secret of perseverance） you can tyrannise over your mind
（which is not the highest part of *you*） every hour of the day； and in no
matter what place。 The exercise is a very convenient one。 If you got into
your morning train with a pair of dumb…bells for your muscles or an
encyclopaedia in ten volumes for your learning； you would probably
excite remark。 But as you walk in the street； or sit in the corner of the
compartment behind a pipe； or 〃strap…hang〃 on the Subterranean； who is to
know that you are engaged in the most important of daily acts？ What
asinine boor can laugh at you？
I do not care what you concentrate on； so long as you concentrate。 It is
the mere disciplining of the thinking machine that counts。 But still； you
may as well kill two birds with one stone； and concentrate on something
useful。 I suggestit is only a suggestiona little chapter of Marcus
Aurelius or Epictetus。
Do not； I beg； shy at their names。 For myself； I know nothing more
〃actual；〃 more bursting with plain common…sense； applicable to the daily
life of plain persons like you and me （who hate airs； pose； and nonsense）
than Marcus Aurelius or Epictetus。 Read a chapterand so short they are；
the chapters！ in the evening and concentrate on it the next morning。 You
will see。
Yes； my friend； it is useless for you to try to disguise the fact。 I can
hear your brain like a telephone at my ear。 You are saying to yourself：
〃This fellow was doing pretty well up to his seventh chapter。 He had
begun to interest me faintly。 But what he says about thinking in trains； and
concen… tration； and so on； is not for me。 It may be well enough for some
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
folks； but it isn't in my line。〃
It is for you； I passionately repeat； it is for you。 Indeed； you are the
very man I am aiming at。
Throw away the suggestion； and you throw away the most precious
suggestion that was ever offered to you。 It is not my suggestion。 It is the
suggestion of the most sensible； practical； hard…headed men who have
walked the earth。 I only give it you at second…hand。 Try it。 Get your mind
in hand。 And see how the process cures half the evils of life especially
worry； that miserable； avoidable； shameful diseaseworry！
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
VIII THE REFLECTIVE MOOD
The exercise of concentrating the mind （to which at least half an hour
a day should be given） is a mere preliminary； like scales on the piano。
Having acquired power over that most unruly member of one's complex
organism； one has naturally to put it to the yoke。 Useless to possess an
obedient mind unless one profits to the furthest possible degree by its
obedience。 A prolonged primary course of study is indicated。
Now as to what this course of study should be there cannot be any
question； there never has been any question。 All the sensible people of all
ages are agreed upon it。 And it is not literature； nor is it any other art； nor
is it history； nor is it any science。 It is the study of one's self。 Man； know
thyself。 These words are so hackneyed that verily I blush to write them。
Yet they must be written； for they need to be written。 （I take back my
blush； being ashamed of it。） Man； know thyself。 I say it out loud。 The
phrase is one of those phrases with which everyone is familiar； of which
everyone acknowledges the