初中英文演讲稿范文(10篇)。
为了演讲的顺利进行。准备好演讲稿可以让你更加专注和有条理地表达你的想法，演讲需要考验演讲者的时间把控能力，怎样写出一份令人满意的主题演讲稿呢？您是否知道“初中英文演讲稿范文”芙蓉134编辑为您整理了一份相关资料，别忘了来看看或许有意想不到的惊喜。
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇1
篇一：初中生英语演讲稿(中英文对应)
treasure of life 生命的财富
i am a rich girl, because i have a lot of treasure. 我是一个富有的女孩，因为我拥有着许多的财富。
friends are my treasures. whenever i am sad and down, i know they would hold my hands and warm my heart. they show me how amazing the friendship is.
朋友是我的财富。当我悲伤或沮丧时，我知道他们会握住我的手，温暖我的心。他们告诉我友谊有多么美好。
families are also my treasures. whether time find us far apart or it keeps us close together, they are always standing by my side. they tell me how wonderful to be loved by people you love.
家人也是我的财富。无论时间将我们分开或者让我们靠得更紧，他们总是陪伴着我。他们让我知道被我爱的人所爱的美丽。
experience is my treasure. whatever good or bad situation i have to face, it would show me the right way. it helps me to know more about life.
经历是我的财富。不管我面对的是好是坏，它总是指引我朝着正确的方向前进。它帮助我更多地理解生活。
i believe i will be richer in the future., because the way of life is just like a journey of finding treasure .you never know when and where you can find them.
you just keep going and they will be found in some time at some place. i will cherish what i have had and keep finding with my curiosity and passion .
我相信将来我会变得更富有，因为人生之路就像寻宝。您不知道何时何地找到他们。您只需要u停下来在某个地方找到他们即可。
我会珍惜现在的一切，怀着好奇心和热情去追求。
i fall in love with reading, because i can get the treasure of knowledge .
i take part in activities, because i can find the treasure of cooperation.
i enjoy music, because i can find out the treasure of beauty.
我喜欢读书，因为我能从中找到知识的宝藏。
我积极参与这些活动，因为我能在其中找到合作的宝藏。
我喜欢**，因为我能从中找到美的宝藏。
life is precious ,isn’t it? how can we get so many beautiful and valuable things without life?
生命如此珍贵，不是吗？没有生命，我们怎能感知到如此美丽和珍贵的东西？
dear friends, let’s feel the world with heart, carry the sun inside you, and reach out for the dreams that guide you where you want to go. you will have what it takes to make our path of success. that is the treasure of life!
亲爱的朋友们，让我们用心去感受这个世界，让我们用阳光填满我们的心，找到一个可以指引你前进的梦想。你会得到一些东西来帮助你走向成功，那就是人生的财富！
谈话二：初中英语演讲
初中英语演讲：我的梦想
students, guests , teachers and honorable judges
good morning !
i dream that one day, i could escape from the deep sea of thick schoolbooks and lead my own life. with my favorite fictions, i lie freely on the green grass, **elling the spring, listening to the wind singing, breathing the fresh and cool air and dissolve my soul in nature at last. ****** and short enjoyment can bring me great satisfaction.
i love english我爱英语
众所周知，英语今天很重要。它已经应用到世界的每一个角落。它已经成为互联网上最常用的语言，用于国际**。
如果我们能讲好英语，我们将有更多的机会成功。随着越来越多的人也注意到这一现象，去学英语的人数也在高速增长。
but for myself,i learn english not only because of its importance and its usefulness,but also because of my love for it. when i learn english, i can feel a different way of thinking which gives me more room to touch the world. when i read english novels,i can feel the pleasure from the book which is different from reading the translation.
when i speak english, i can feel the confident from my words. when i write english,i can see the beauty which is not the same as our chinese...
但对我自己来说，我学习英语不仅是因为它的重要性和实用性，更是因为我的爱。当我学习英语的世候，我能感觉到一种不同的思维方式有更多的空间让我接触世界。当我读英语时，我能感到幸福。从这本书来看，它不同于阅读翻译。
我说英语时,我能感到自信。从我写英语时的话中，我可以看出我的美丽与我们的中国人不同
i love english,it gives me a colorful dream. i hope i can travel around the world one day. with my good english, i can make friends with many people from different countries.
i can see many places of great interests. i dream that i can go to london,because it is the birth place of english.
我喜欢英语，它给了我一个丰富多彩的梦想。我希望我可以环游世界一天。用我流利的英语，我可以和许多来自不同国家的人交朋友。
我能看到很多地方了浓厚兴趣。我梦想我能去伦敦，因为它是英语的故乡。
i also want to use my good english to introduce our great places to the english spoken people,i hope that they can love our country like us.
我也希望用我流利的英语向讲英语的朋友介绍我们感兴趣的地方。我希望他们能像我们一样爱我们的国家。
i know, rome was not built in a day. i believe that after continuous hard study, one day i can speak english very well.
我知道,罗马不是一天建成的。我相信在不断的努力学习下，总有一天我会说一口流利的英语。
if you want to be loved, you should learn to love and be lovable. so i believe as i love english everyday , it will love me too.
如果你想被爱，你应该学会爱别人，让自己变得可爱。所以我相信我对英语的热爱会得到回报。
im sure that i will realize my dream one day!
我相信有一天我能实现我的梦想！
thank you!
谢谢你!
youth青春
youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
青春不是生命的一段时光,它是一种精神状态;它不是红润的面颊,红色的嘴唇和柔软的双膝;它是一种意志、最优的创造力和充满活力的情感;它是使生命之泉永不枯竭的。
youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease. this often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20. nobody grows old merely by a number of years.
we grow old by deserting our ideals.
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇2
各位老师们、同学们：我发言的题目是《正视挫折，走向成功》有一人，做生意失败；角逐美国州议员落选；做生意再度失败；他的情人离开人间；一度精神崩溃；角逐美国联邦众议员再度落选；角逐美国联邦参议员落选；提名副总统落选；角逐美国联邦参议员再度落选。就是这样一个屡战屡败的人，在他五十二岁时，当选美国第十六任总统！成功者是需要坚韧的毅力和非凡的勇气的。一个人经历一些挫折并不是坏事情。自古雄才多磨难“从来纨绔少伟男，在我们成长的道路上。也有坎坷，在你伸手摘取美丽的鲜花时，荆棘同时会刺伤你的手。如果因为怕痛，就不愿伸手。再美丽的鲜花也是可望而不可及的，成功永远属于挑战失败的人，年轻没有失败。只要能战胜荆棘，至少也可以证明我们曾经奋斗过，我们不是挫折的奴隶，在学习中你遇到过挫折吗！如测验不极格，考试不理想？这会儿对一道作文题目无从下笔，那会儿对一条数学难题毫无头绪；你就该正视挫折。永不言败，努力走向成功。
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇3
英语演讲对发展青年学生个人能力的促进作用也逐渐为人所知。初中生英语演讲有哪些中英文版本？以下是为您编辑的内容，希望对您有所帮助。
one day, ji liang went to see the king of wei and reported: "when i was ***ing here, i saw a man on the road driving a horse carage north in great haste.
"i asked him: 'where are you going in such haste?'
"he replied: 'i am going to the state of chu.'
"i said: 'if you want to go to the state of chu, you should go south. why are you going north?
you are going the wrong way!'
"he said: 'my horse is big and strong. it can run as fast as flying.
it doesn't matter to run a little more.'
"i told him: 'though your horse is good, you are going in the wrong direction.'
"he said: 'it doesn't matter. i have lots of money.'
"i told him again: 'though you have lots of money, this is not the road to the state of chu.'
"he said: 'it doesn't matter. my driver is good and strong.'
"finally i told him: 'though your driver is good and strong, this is not the road to the state of chu."
the king of wei blurted1 out: "alas2, this man is too obstinate3. he doesn't realize that if his direction is wrong, the better he is equipped, the farther he would be away from his destination.
"一天，季梁去见魏王，报告说：“这次，我来的时候，在路上看到一个人，驾着马车往北走，走得很急。
“我问他:‘走得这么急，你要去哪儿?’
“他回答说:‘我要到楚国去。’
“我说:‘你去楚国，应该朝南走，怎么往北呢?你走错了!’
“他说:‘我的马很好，又高又大，跑起来跟飞一样快。多跑点儿没关系。’
“我告诉他:‘你的马虽然好，可是去楚国的方向不对呀!’
“他说:‘没关系，我有很多钱。’
“我又告诉他:‘你钱虽然多，但是这不是去楚国的路呀!’
“他说:‘没关系，我的车夫好，他身强力壮。’
“最后我告诉他:‘你的车夫虽然好，但是这不是去楚国的路呀!’
魏王脱口说道:“唉!这个人真固执。他不知道方向不对。条件越好，离目的地越远。”
distinguished judges, teachers, dear friends:
尊敬的评委、老师和朋友们
hello, everyone! my name is cheng xiang yan , i am a junior student ***e from life science institution .today, i am very glad to stand here and share with you my most sincere speech'flying youth, master our future!
'你好,每个人!我的名字是程湘燕,我是一个大三学生来自生命科学系。今天,我很高兴站在这里和你们分享我最真诚的演讲'飞扬青春,掌握我们的未来!”
life is a process of growing up. saying goodbye to childhood, we step into another important time of life in the pace of young, facing new situations, dealing with different problems.....
人生是一个成长的过程。告别童年，我们踏入人生的另一个重要时刻是在年轻的步伐中，面对新的形势，。。。处理不同的问题
however, who can really say what the youth is ? a period of time? a belief?
an attitude to life? or anything else? actually, everyone has his own understanding of young, it is a period of time of beauty and wonders, only after you have experienced the sour , sweet ,bitter and salty, can you really be***e a person of significance.
但谁能说出什么是青春呢？一段时间？信仰？
一个生活态度?还是别的?实际上,每个人都有自己对青春的理解,这是一段时间的美丽和奇迹,只有在你经历了酸、甜、苦、咸，你才能成为一位举足轻重的人物。
just like a famous poet said "youth is a lovely song ,where nothing is impossible ,youth is a meaningful book, you'll be never bored of it ;youth is a rapid river ,it keeps on flowing day and night ;youth is a cup of tea ,it shows you different kinds of tastes in your life."
就像一位著名的诗人说的“青春是一首可爱的歌曲,没有什么是不可能的,青春是一本有意义的书,你将永远不会无聊,青春是一个快速的河,它继续日夜流动;青春是一杯茶,它向您展示了不同的味道在你的生活中。”
as youth is so precious, of course, we must treasure it .don't let the limited time pass by, grasping the young will means a better time is waiting for you in the near future.
青春是如此珍贵，当然，我们必须珍惜它。不要让有限的时间过去。抓住年轻人意味着在不久的将来有更好的时机等着你。
so,it's necessary for us to prepare ourselves well for the future to ***e. having a view on those great men in the history of hunman being, they all made full use of their youth time to do things that are useful to society, to the whole mankind, and as a consequence ,they are remembered by later generations, admired by everyone. so do something in the time of young, although you may not get achievements as these greatmen did ,though not for the whole world, just for youeself, for those around!
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇4
▲相信自己是一只雄鹰▲ 一个人在高山之巅的鹰巢里，抓到了一只幼鹰，养在鸡笼里。这只幼鹰和鸡一起啄食、嬉闹和休息。这只鹰渐渐长大，主人想把它训练成猎鹰，可是由于终日和鸡混在一起，它已经变得和鸡完全一样，根本没有飞的愿望了。主人试了各种办法，最后把它带到山顶上，一把将它扔了出去。慌乱之中它拼命地扑打翅膀，它终于飞了起来！磨练召唤成功的力量。年少的阿巴格和他爸爸在草原上迷了路，阿巴格又累又怕，到最后快走不动了。爸爸就从兜里掏出5枚硬币，把一枚硬币埋在草地里，把其余4枚放在阿巴格的手上，就是埋在草地里的那一枚，你不能把5枚都扔在草原里，今天我们一定要走出草原。你将来也一定要走出草原，就要多走些地方，不要让你的金币没有用就扔掉，在父亲的鼓励下。那天阿巴格走出了草原”成了一名优秀的船长，就能走出挫折的沼泽地：由于卧室的窗户整天都是密闭着，他们认为屋内太阴暗，看见外面灿烂的阳光，觉得十分羡慕，兄弟俩就商量说，我们可以一起把外面的阳光扫一点进来。兄弟两人拿着扫帚和畚箕“到阳台上去扫阳光。等到他们把畚箕搬到房间里的时候”里面的阳光就没有了，这样一而再再而三地扫了许多次，屋内还是一点阳光都没有。正在厨房忙碌的妈妈看见他们奇怪的举动，他们回答说。房间太暗了，我们要扫点阳光进来：妈妈笑道“只要把窗户打开？阳光自然会进来”
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇5
走在成长的道路上，即使在平坦，也难免有崎岖与坎坷;阳光明媚，也会遇到阴云密布;江河一泻千里，却常常有急流。成长中，挫折教会我们很多……
发愤写《史记》
人们永远都不会忘记他——司马迁。他为了给李陵辩护而触怒龙颜。他必是必须要死，他有两种选择：1、拿钱赎命 2、选择宫刑。他虽然是中央官员，在皇帝身边做事，但他为官清廉，家无余资，百般无奈之下，他只有选择宫刑。但那是对人格的侮辱，他真的想一死了之，但当他想起父亲临终前的嘱托和那本还未完成并属于大汉的书，他又犹豫了，他冷静了，他要完成那本属于大汉的书，完他它的使命。所以，最终他选择了宫刑，选择了忍耐。挫折，使他学会了坚强，从而完成了千古史书——《史记》
卧薪尝胆
两千年前，吴王夫差在歌舞中尽享奢华，殊不知，吴地的大门已被攻破，一把利剑伸向吴王的喉咙，翻腾的血花卷起一地的怨恨，血花泪光之中映出了勾践刚毅的面容。那一次的失败，那一次的挫折，使他学会了忍，更明白了坚强与责任。卧薪尝胆，三千越甲可吞吴。一张薪床，招去了所有的浮华与荣光，一只苦胆，涤荡尽的是山珍海味，只剩下父老乡亲的泪眼，国破家亡的耻辱，他用坚强与责任的力量拯救了他的国度，他做到了。挫折，成就了一代霸主。
“文王居而演《周易》，仲尼扼而做《春秋》，屈原放逐，乃赋《离骚》，孙子膑脚，《兵法》修列，不韦迁蜀，世传《吕览》，韩非囚秦，《难说》《孤愤》……”他们都是遇到挫折而成才的典范。
成长需要挫折，因为它让我们意志坚强;成长需要挫折，因为它让我们明白责任的力量;成长需要挫折，因为它让我们变得坚忍不拔。
成长中，让我们微笑面对挫折，接受来自挫折的挑战!
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇6
尊敬的各位领导，各位同事们：
大家下午好。
我叫___，非常感谢各位领导和同仁的支持与厚爱，能够让我有机会站在这里，与大家分享这一刻的光荣与喜悦。
加入恒瑞这个大家庭已有两年又7个月的时间里，让我真正体会到了，恒瑞的温暖与关爱，以及恒瑞的企业文化，和对人才的关心、培养与重视。
今天能够站在这里发言，并且是代表优秀员工的发言，在这里我要感谢每一位帮助过我的领导和同事，是你们的支持帮助与信任，才使得今天的广东市场打开了一定的局面，在高端食品领域也逐步得到了客户的认可与支持。
20__年，在公司“团结、规范、执行、升级”工作方针下，我作为一名普通的业务员，能真真体会到市场带给企业的压力和给我的动力!其实从20__年6月份刚入公司开始，到7月份下广东市场开发高端食品行业，一方面我们恒瑞在这个新的市场、新的行业中，在没有基础，没有客户资源，没有样板客户等条件下，市场开括起来困难重重;一方面是客户不太信任我们产品，想要从其他客户手中抢到一部分市场，只有凭借公司过硬的产品和一颗执着的恒心，再加上各位领导及同仁们，始终站在我身后，给予了很多的帮助与支持，让我有幸坚持一路走了过来，没有半途而费。
事实上，对于我们这个变性淀粉销售行业而言，是一个出结果和成绩相对较为缓慢的过程，(就像竹子的生长一样，竹子用4年的时间仅仅长了3cm，在第五年开始，以每天30cm的速度疯狂的生长，仅仅用6周就可以长到15米，其实在前面的4年，竹子将根在土壤里延伸了数百米。)我们也是一样只要坚持不断的去前进，终归收获客户与业绩。业绩一点一点，一步一个台阶走出了一点成绩，从刚开始连续4月没业绩，到第5月的第一个客户才半吨货，半年才实现了3吨的业务量。曾经的一度灰心，是领导、同事们的支持、帮助下，通过努力20__年实现71吨的销量;20__年更是突破了300吨，并成功开发了6个新客户，可以说是从量变到质变的升级。
以上，也仅仅说明20__年的一点工作回顾，还谈不上成绩。20__年，坚持“强化、深化、细化”工作思路下，围绕高端品逐步体现出来的优势，加大业务销量和开发新客户的力度，以落实强化、深化、细化工作，我也力争在高端品领域实现自己更大的突破，力争实现600吨销量的目标任务。我相信，我能做到，同时，也鼓励新加入我们销售团队的同仁们，只要努力，只要坚持，付出总会得到回报的!
同时，我个人认为：恒瑞这个大平台是一个充满活力和正能量的企业，公司所提倡的孝贤文化，以及以人为本的理念，使我在工作中感到非常的愉快与轻松。各位领导和同事们的平易近人，使公司整个办公环境变得充满活力和激情。没有压抑感，这也是我来恒瑞两年多的时间里最大的感受，我很喜欢这种环境，也很珍惜这个平台和机会。我希望我们的恒瑞，我们的大家庭越来越好，越来越强大，只有这样我们的个人小家庭，才会更幸福温暖，更有钱景!大家也都明白大河无水小河干的道理，所以恒瑞的明天也是我们的未来。公司的发展与进步，离不开我们每个人的添砖加瓦!我们每个人都有责任和义务去为这个大家庭去贡献自己的一份力量。愿我们的公司，我们的恒瑞，在未来的日子里，一天比一天美好，一年比一年辉煌。
在此我也祝愿各位领导各位同事，在新的一年里，新年快乐，身体健康，万事如意!
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇7
你一天天长大，可是你的父母却一天天变老了。你平时有没有看过他们的模样？你有没有仔细打量过他们？他们的模样已经老到什么程度了呢？你知道不知道？他们或许已经变得很老了，由于新陈代谢的缘故，人总会自然变老的，但如果老得太快衰老得太早那就不正常了。他们为生活奔奔波波，为孩子忧心忡忡。你或许还常常跟他们顶嘴、吵架，惹他们生气伤心，你的学习又不怎么理想，你的行为总让他们很不放心，他们常常为你将来的前途和出路担忧发愁，况且他们身上可能还有很多病痛，他们又舍不得上医院看医生，怕检查怕住院，老这么硬撑着，他们的生命有没有危险？他们能活多久？无论如何你都要抽点时间，给自己一个机会好好看一看你的爸爸妈妈！如果你没有了父母你的学习和生活将会发生什么样的变化呢？父母是以什么样的方式挣钱供你读书的？他们过得好不好？他们对你好不好？你常惦记他们吗？你常问候他们吗？你还时常跟他们有说有笑吗？你还常常牵着他们的手上街吗？你很乐意让他们来学校看你吗？在同学面前你能很自豪地介绍他们吗？你知道他们的生日吗？你记住他们的生日吗？你现在还是个学生，还不需要为父母承担什么责任，他们就很高兴了，甚至别人还夸你是个很懂事的孩子。你也有自己的孩子的时候，你的父母生病住院，需要开刀，才能治好他们的病。
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇8
It is my great pleasure to share my dream with you today. My dream is to become a senior English teacher. Teaching is a great job, teachers like the gardeners of motherland, nurturing the flowers of the motherland. I also want to be this kind of gardener, with my own sweat, have harvest fruits in return.
Teachers are not rich, but I think it is happy to talk with children. And I think I will be a very good teacher. I will make my students do less homework on Sunday. I will be nice to my students. Playing with the children is happy to me. I will take them to the park to enjoy the beautiful flowers and the grasses. I hope my dream will come true. I'll work hard for my dreams and never give up.
关于初中生演讲稿英文版篇4
In may, there is always a kind of feelings, always have a firm belief in rising. 16 candles lit up the youth milestone in the life journey, we met in the starting line of youth, for it made a regretless promise Duan Shaohua years, ready to go.
Youth is like a eagle flying high, tirelessly, towards the sea of clouds on each level advance, regardless of the ups and downs, and how much heart, how big is the heaven and earth. We in the wide world singing the music of youth, flying dreams of youth. We use of unremitting efforts, the endless pursuit, showing the power of youth.
Life gives us a huge and unlimited noble gift, this is youth: full of power, full of expectation, ambition for knowledge and struggle, full of hope and confidence of youth!
Finally, I want to use liang qichao's words to end today's speech: "young wisdom is the wisdom, is the young rich national wealth, young strong a country is strong, young is the progressive, young males in the earth, the male in the earth." Let's spread the sweat, drink pick-up, chew one with difficulty,
Let youth burning under the red flag. Wish every young man holding his own dream, to shoulder their responsibilities, constantly have ridden on the voyage of life, forge ahead!
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇9
I love traveling. Traveling not only broadens my horizons but also opens myeyes to the world. What's more, it refreshes me. You can go to Disneyland ande_perience what it's like to be “a child again!” You can visit one of the “sevenwonders of the world,” such as the Grand Canyon and feel the magnificence ofnature! You can taste the “magicial” ice water on a glacier, which can help youbecome more beautiful and make you live longer. Just forget all trifles andburdens that you have in your mind. E_perience is a type of living knowledge.You'll be sure to e_perience many new things when traveling. You don't even needa tour guide if you long for more freedom. Just don't forget to bring yourbackpack!
以上是网小编精心整理的旅行的意义英文演讲稿初中精选3篇，仅供参考。
初中英文演讲稿范文 篇10
初中生英文演讲稿精选篇1
do you know what my favorite animal is? it is one of the most precious animals. their bodies are very long. they live in the sea. they live on fish, shrimps and so on.
they are very clever. people often train them，so that they can give it show which brings people a lot of happiness and joy.
they are very friendly and peaceful. they never attack people. instead, they have saved many people in danger in the past years. how helpful they are!
can you guess its name now? yes, you are right. they are dolphins.
however, unluckily, the number of dolphins is getting smaller and smaller. because of water pollution, there is less and less space for dolphins. many people make money by hunting dolphins. if we don’t protect them，maybe we’ll lose our good friends one day. as a student, i hope more and more people should protect dolphins.
i love dolphins very much. and i hope dolphins are our good friends for ever. i hope they can live in the blue sea happily and peacefully. let’s protect the animals together. let’s take actions.
初中生英文演讲稿精选篇2
Good morning everyone
It's a great honor for me to stand here to deliver a speech to you. Then today I want to talk something about dreams and reality.
As the famous Russian litterateur Lev Tolstoy (列夫、托尔斯泰)said, “Ideal is the beacon(烟火、灯塔). Without ideal, there is no secure (无虑的, 安全的, 安心的, 可靠的, 保险的)direction; without a direction, there is no life.” So there’s no doubt that everyone needs his or her own ideal. Have you ever thought that what is practical and sensible(.明智的, 有感觉的, 明理的) will connect with our most treasured dreams? Maybe, to somebody, reality has little relation to ideal. To others nothing can be done without the sense of reality. So make our dreams a part of our reality. And make our reality a part of our dreams. There is no reason why our dreams must oppose our reality. Improve our dreams and our reality by bringing them together.
As a university student, establishing a dream is one of the most important things we have to do .But everyone must see the reality clearly at first. Your family condition, your personal ability, your social intercourse (交往、交流), your subject and the job you want to do, these things show you the reality and lead you to establish a dream.
Further more, difficult or otherwise, we should put the power of reality into our dreams. Last but not least remember to work hard at the task of chasing 追逐our dreams. Do believe that we can achieve our ideal step by step by the passage of time!
In the end, I want to share with you a poetry named " I think I can"
Maybe you can not understand the meaning of the poetry , But do not be worried ,Let me tell you the meaning
Thank you for your listening!
初中生英文演讲稿精选篇3
The Road to Happiness
It is a commonplace among moralists that you cannot get happiness by pursuing it. This is only true if you pursue it unwisely. Gamblers at Monte Carlo are pursuing money, and most of them lose it instead, but there are other ways of pursuing money, which often succeed. So it is with happiness. If you pursue it by means of drink, you are forgetting the hangover. Epicurus pursued it by living only in congenial society and eating only dry bread, supplemented by a little cheese on feast days. His method proved successful in his case, but he was a valetudinarian, and most people would need something more vigorous. For most people, the pursuit of happiness, unless supplemented in various ways, is too abstract and theoretical to be adequate as a personal rule of life. But I think that whatever personal rule of life you may choose it should not, except in rare and heroic cases, be incompatible with happiness. If you look around at the men and women whom you can call happy, you will see that they all have certain things in common.
The most important of these things is an activity which at most gradually builds up something that you are glad to see coming into existence. Women who take an instinctive pleasure in their children can get this kind of satisfaction out of bringing up a family. Artists and authors and men of science get happiness in this way if their own work seems good to them. But there are many humbler forms of the same kind of pleasure. Many men who spend their working life in the city devote their weekends to voluntary and unremunerated toil in their gardens, and when the spring comes, they experience all the joys of having created beauty. The whole subject of happiness has, in my opinion, been treated too solemnly.
It had been thought that man cannot be happy without a theory of life or a religion. Perhaps those who have been rendered unhappy by a bad theory may need a better theory to help them to recover, just as you may need a tonic when you have been ill. But when things are normal a man should be healthy without a tonic and happy without a theory. It is the simple things that really matter. If a man delights in his wife and children, has success in work, and finds pleasure in the alternation of day and night, spring and autumn, he will be happy whatever his philosophy may be. If, on the other hand, he finds his wife fateful, his children’s noise unendurable, and the office a nightmare; if in the daytime he longs for night, and at night sighs for the light of day, then what he needs is not a new philosophy but a new regimen–a different diet, or more exercise, or what not. Man is an animal, and his happiness depends on his physiology more than he likes to think. This is a humble conclusion, but I cannot make myself disbelieve it. Unhappy businessmen, I am convinced, would increase their happiness more by walking six miles every day than by any conceivable change of philosophy.