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I have incidentally mentioned the vast expanse of forty…four hours between
leaving business at 2 p。m。 on Saturday and returning to business at 10 a。m。
on Monday。 And here I must touch on the point whether the week should
consist of six days or of seven。 For many yearsin fact； until I was approaching
fortymy own week consisted of seven days。 I was constantly being informed
by older and wiser people that more work； more genuine living； could be got
out of six days than out of seven。
And it is certainly true that now； with one day in seven in which I follow no
programme and make no effort save what the caprice of the moment dictates；
I appreciate intensely the moral value of a weekly rest。 Nevertheless； had I
my life to arrange over again； I would do again as I have done。 Only those
who have lived at the full stretch seven days a week for a long time can
appreciate the full beauty of a regular recurring idleness。 Moreover； I am
ageing。 And it is a question of age。 In cases of abounding youth and
exceptional energy and desire for effort I should say unhesitatingly： Keep
going； day in； day out。
But in the average case I should say： Confine your formal programme
（super…programme； I mean） to six days a week。 If you find yourself
wishing to extend it； extend it； but only in proportion to your wish； and
count the time extra as a windfall； not as regular income； so that you can
return to a six…day programme without the sensation of being poorer； of
being a backslider。
Let us now see where we stand。 So far we have marked for saving
out of the waste of days； half an hour at least on six mornings a
week； and one hour and a half on three evenings a week。 Total；
seven hours and a half a week。
I propose to be content with that seven hours and a half for the
present。 〃What？〃 you cry。 〃You pretend to show us how to live；
and you only deal with seven hours and a half out of a hundred
and sixty…eight！ Are you going to perform a miracle with your
seven hours and a half？〃 Well； not to mince the matter； I amif
you will kindly let me！ That is to say； I am going to ask you to
attempt an experience which； while perfectly natural and explicable；
has all the air of a miracle。 My contention is that the full use of those
seven…and…a…half hours will quicken the whole life of the week； add
zest to it； and increase the interest which you feel in even the most
banal occupations。 You practise physical exercises for a mere ten
minutes morning and evening； and yet you are not astonished when
your physical health and strength are beneficially affected every hour
of the day； and your whole physical outlook changed。 Why should
you be astonished that an average of over an hour a day given to the
mind should permanently and completely enliven the whole activity
of the mind？
More time might assuredly be given to the cultivation of one's self。
And in proportion as the time was longer the results would be greater。
But I prefer to begin with what looks like a trifling effort。
It is not really a trifling effort； as those will discover who have yet
to essay it。 To 〃clear〃 even seven hours and a half from the jungle is
passably difficult。 For some sacrifice has to be made。 One may have
spent one's time badly； but one did spend it； one did do something
with it； however ill…advised that something may have been。 To do
something else means a change of habits。
And habits are the very dickens to change！ Further； any change； even
a change for the better； is always accompanied by drawbacks and
discomforts。 If you imagine that you will be able to devote seven
hours and a half a week to serious； continuous effort； and still live
your old life； you are mistaken。 I repeat that some sacrifice； and an
immense deal of volition； will be necessary。 And it is because I know
the difficulty； it is because I know the almost disastrous effect of failure
in such an enterprise； that I earnestly advise a very humble beginning。
You must safeguard your self…respect。 Self…respect is at the root of all
purposefulness； and a failure in an enterprise deliberately planned deals
a desperate wound at one's self…respect。 Hence I iterate and reiterate：
Start quietly； unostentatiously。
When you have conscientiously given seven hours and a half a week
to the cultivation of your vitality for three monthsthen you may
begin to sing louder and tell yourself what wondrous things you are
capable of doing。
Before coming to the method of using the indicated hours； I have one
final suggestion to make。 That is； as regards the evenings； to allow
much more than an hour and a half in which to do the work of an hour
and a half。 Remember the chance of accidents。 Remember human nature。
And give yourself； say； from 9 to 11。30 for your task of ninety minutes。
VII
CONTROLLING THE MIND
People say： 〃One can't help one's thoughts。〃 But one can。 The control
of the thinking machine is perfectly possible。 And since nothing whatever
happens to us outside our own brain； since nothing hurts us or gives us
pleasure except within the brain； the supreme importance of being able
to control what goes on in that mysterious brain is patent。 This idea is
one of 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 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 use