HAPPY PEOPLE

- William Ralph Inge

considers 'happy'.

Ans) Most of us feel that happiness is 'our being's end and aim. We are never either so happy

or so un happy as we suppose ourselves to be. The successful man generally tells us that he was

happiest while he was still struggling for his success. It is generally supposed that the young

are happier than the old. But young people are very unhappy. Robert Browning claims that old

age is 'the best of life' and some old people agree with him. The married people are supposed to

be happier than the single. They are less ready to commit suicide. As a rule marriage is

probably matched. The happiest people are those who have no particular cause to be happy

except the fact they are so. Religion is a great source of happiness because it gives us the right

standard of values. We sometimes hear of the happiness which prevails in a monastery or a

nunnery. The busy are happier than the idle. The man who was found his work is much

happier than the man who has not found it.

2.Q Narrate the story of the ambassador and his servant in your own words. How is it relevant

to Inge's essay? Is there any lesson that the author wishes to communicate through the story?

Ans) In the days of the Commonwealth, Balustrade White Locke, Ambassador to the Hague,

was tossing about through the night in anxiety about the condition of his country. An old

servant, lying in the same room addressed him by saying whether he might ask him a question.

The Ambassador immediately agreed. The servant then asked the ambassador whether God

governed the world well before the ambassador came into the world. The ambassador replied

'undoubtedly'. Then the servant asked the ambassador whether he could not trust Him to rule

the world well while the ambassador was in the world. Then the ambassador turned on his side
and fell asleep. This episode is relevant to Inge's essay as it is not in our hands to be happy or

unhappy. It is the will of the god which makes us happy. The lesson that the author wishes to

communicate through this story is that faith and trust in God can enhance one's state of

happiness.

3.Q Write the character sketch of William Ralph Inge, as revealed solely by his views in this

essay?

Ans) William Ralph Inge is a clergyman who has strong belief in God. He starts the essay with

a proverb of Solomon. He says that we have no answer ready for the question who really the

happiest people are. He says that he can separate the years when he was happy and those

when he was un happy. He contradicts the opinion that young people are happier than the old.

In his opinion young people are often very un-happy, torn by conflicting elements in their

characters. In his opinion marriage is the happiest state. He feels that the happiest people have

no particular cause for being happy except the fact that they are so. He says he has noticed that

the biographies to great men reveal that they were subject to frequent and severe depression.

He says that the sermon on the mount ranks worry as one of the deadly sins. So, he prefers

happiness to worry or depression. He opines that religion is a great source of happiness

because it gives us right standard of values. He feels that running away from life ought not to

make people happy. In his view a life without affection and sympathy could give only a very

negative kind of happiness.

4.Q Do you consider yourself a happy person?

Ans) While happiness comes from a variety of sources, I do believe people tend to be happy

when they’re producing something. Sometimes though, we find ourselves bored with what

we’re doing. That boredom can lead to taking while not giving and sitting when we should be
producing. Perhaps the challenge lies in finding that one thing or something that does make us

happy. If you’re not happy, don’t give up on the search!

SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION:

In the essay 'Happy People' the writer, William Ralph Inge explores the question of what makes people
happy and who are considered to be happy people. In the book of Proverbs written by King Solomon, he
writes that, 'Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy'.

HAPPY PEOPLE William Ralph Inge In Happy people William Inge explores the question & what makes
people happy and who are considered to be happy people. William Ralph Inge is a clergyman who has
strong belief in God. He says that we have no answer for the question that who really the happiest people
are. He says that he can separate the years when he was unhappy. He contradicts the opinion that young
people are happier than the old. In his opinion young people are often very unhappy, tom by conflicting
elements in their characters. In his opinion marriage is the happiest state. He feels that the happiest
people have no particular cause for being happy except the fact that they are so. He says he has noticed
that the biographies of great men reveal that they were subject to frequent and severe depression. He says
that the Sermon on the Mount ranks worry as one of the deadly sins. So he prefers happiness to worry or
depression. He opines that religion is a great source of happiness because it gives us right standard of
values and enables us to regard our troubles as light for a moment. Most of us feel that happiness is 'our
being's end and aim. We are never so happy or so unhappy as we suppose ourselves to be. The successful
man generally tells us that he was happy while he was struggling for his success. In the days of the
commonwealth, Balustrade white lock. Ambassador to the Hague, was tossing about through the night It
anxiety about the condition of his country. An old servant, lying in the same room addressed him by
saying whether he might ask him a question. The Ambassador immediately agreed. The Servant thin
asked the ambassador whether he could not trust Him to rule the world well while the ambassador was in
the world. Then the ambassador turned on his side and fell 1, asleep. This episode is relevant to Inge's
essay as it is not in our hands to be happy or unhappy. It is the will of the god which makes us happy. The
lesson that the author wishes to communicate through this story is that faith and trust in God can
enhance one's state of happiness. He feels that running away from life ought not to make people happy.
In his view a life without affection and sympathy could give only a very negative kind of happiness.

CONCLUSION...
Happiness is a goal I think most of us strive for day in and day out. What we don't realize is that it is the
small things mean the most. Things like eating an apple, going to a concert or taking a bike ride with a
friend are huge when it comes to happiness. Small habits each day lead to happy life that you may have
thought was unachievable in the past. As a human being we are all naturally looking for happiness in our
life. Although it may seem rather difficult, just making a few changes to what we already do in our daily
life is really all that is needed.

In the essay ‘Happy People’ the writer, William Ralph Inge explores the question of what makes people happy and
who are considered to be happy people. In the book of Proverbs written by King Solomon, he writes that, ‘Each
heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy’. Robert Browning thanks God that the
meanest of his creatures has two soul-sides, one to face the world with and one to show a woman when he loves
her. It is very rare for someone to completely share one’s feelings.

According to Inge, for most people, happiness is their being’s end and aim. The author feels that he can easily
separate the years when he was happy from the years he was not, but immediately states that one is never either
so happy or so miserable as one assumes to be. He feels that the game of life is worth playing, but the struggle is
the actual prize.

He opines that young people are unhappy as they have to go through several conflicts. Robert Browning and
many old people believe that old age is the best age in one’s life. He feels that marriage too is probably the
happiest state when the partners are well matched. He feels that the happiest people are those who don’t have any
particular reason to be happy. The writer feels that the happiest man in England may probably be a mad man
although no one would want to trade places with such a person.

The biographies of great men reveal that they were subject to frequent and severe fits of depression. The medieval
monks placed among the Seven Deadly Sins, one which they called Acedia, which is a compound of dejection,
sloth and irritability. Religion is a great source of happiness, although it is prone to more serious misery than any
other. Inge is of the opinion that running away from life ought not to make people happy and prefers
unworldliness based on knowledge of the world as a better option. He urges readers to read the book, ‘The Sadhu’,
which is centred on the life of Sadhu Sundar Singh, who in spite of his travails and persecution, still was as happy
as most other Christ-like saints.

The author would like to wish for three gifts from the fairy godmother. The first would be wisdom, the second
domestic happiness and the third for the approval of his fellowmen. He disagrees with the views of Napoleon
Bonaparte, who felt that a hard heart is a recipe for happiness and feels that a life without affection and
sympathy could only give negative kind of happiness. Inge feels that people live in evil times and public affairs are
taken more tragically than how they were taken in the eighteenth century. He gives the example of Dr Johnson
who lived through the American war and illustrates Johnson’s stance on how well he dealt with public calamities
through a dialogue he had with Boswell, who on the other hand was too perturbed by the misfortunes of those
times. He finally seems to reiterate the fact that trusting in God’s ability to handle everything happening around
us- good or bad- is the secret for our peace and happiness.
I COMPREHENSION PASSAGE:

Questions:

1. What does the proverb of Solomon say?

2. Can we read the heart of the people?

3 Who thanks God?

4 Why does he thank God?

5 What is the end and aim of one ‘s being?

Answers:

1. It says that only the heart knows its bitterness and let a stranger not intermediate it with its joy.

2. No. We cannot read the heart of the people

3. Robert Browning thanks God.

4. He thanks God since each of his creations has two souls-sides, one to face the world and the other
to show love.

5. Happiness is the end and aim of one ‘s being.

II Comprehension passage:

Questions:

1. Are the young happier than the old, according to the author?

2. Why does the author say so?

3. What does Robert Browning sasy on old age?

5. According to the author, marriage is probably the happiest state. Do you agree or disagree?

Answers:

1. No. The young are not happier than the old, according to the author.

2. Because the young are torn by their conflicting elements in their characters.

3. He says that old age is the best of life.

4. The married people are less prone to suicide than the single.

5. Yes, I do agree with the author.

III Comprehension passage:

Questions:

1. Which is the great source of happiness?

2. How does it give happiness?

3. Running away from life is one of the happiest ways of life-Yes or No?

4. What is said to be the finest thing on earth? 5. Which is less admirable?

Answers:

1. Religion serves as the greatest source of Happiness.

2. Religion gives us the right standard of values. It also enables us to consider troubles, as a
temporary pain.

3. No. Running away from life is not one of the happiest ways of life.

4. Unworldliness based on knowledge of the world is the finest thing on earth.

5. Unworldliness based on ignorance is less admirable

IV COSMPREHENSION PASSAGE:

Questions:

1. Who is Sadhu Singh?

2. Name the writer who wrote about Sadhu ‘s life?

3. What kind of persecution did the Sadhu undergo?

4. What did the Sadhu experience?

5. What did the parlour maid say?

Answers:

1. Sadhu Singh was an Indian Christian missionary.

2. Canon Street is the name of the writer.

4. The Sadhu felt that he was among the decaying corpses of former victims, and lived the happy life
of the saints.

5. The parlour said that the Sadhu looks as if he might be Jesus Christ.

V COMPREHENSION PASSAGE:

Questions:

1. Who is happier, the busy or the idle?

2. What is essential to all of us?

3. What gifts does the author ask the young godmother?

4. What are the chief conditions of happiness, according to Napoleon?

5. What is the result of life without love and sympathy?

Answers:

1. The busy are happier.

2. Recognition by others is essential to all of us.

3. The author asks for wisdom, domestic happiness and approval of his fellows.

4. A hard heart and a good digestion are the requisites of happiness according to Napoleon.

5. Life without love and sympathy leads to negative kind of happiness.

VI COMPREHENSION PASSAGE:

Questions:

1. What made Englishmen awake all night?

2. Who is Balustrade White Locke?

3. Why was Balustrade restless?

4. What made the tired ambassador fall asleep?

5. What does the author try to say through the servant?

Answers:

1. The hint of the war made the Englishmen awoke all night.

2. Balustrade White Locke was the ambassador to The Hague.

3. Balustrade was anxious about the condition of his country.

4. The query of the ambassador ‘s servant gave a solution to his problem and hence he fell asleep.

5. He says that faith and trust in God can enhance one ‘s state of happiness.