56. All men seek happiness, but not of the same sort.
The mind has a different relish, as well as the palate; and
you will as fruitlessly endeavour to delight all men with riches or glory (which yet some men place their
happiness in) as you would to satisfy all men's hunger with cheese or lobsters; which, though very agreeable and
delicious fare to some, are to others extremely nauseous and offensive: and many persons would with reason
prefer the griping of an hungry belly to those dishes which are a feast to others. Hence it was, I think, that the
philosophers of old did in vain inquire, whether summum bonum consisted in riches, or bodily delights, or virtue,
or contemplation: and they might have as reasonably disputed, whether the best relish were to be found in apples,
plums, or nuts, and have divided themselves into sects upon it. For, as pleasant tastes depend not on the things
themselves, but on their agreeableness to this or that particular palate, wherein there is great variety; so the
greatest happiness consists in the having those things which produce the greatest pleasure, and in the absence of
those which cause any disturbance, any pain. Now these, to different men, are very different things. If, therefore,
men in this life only have hope; if in this life only they can enjoy, it is not strange nor unreasonable, that they
should seek their happiness by avoiding all things that disease them here, and by pursuing all that delight them;
wherein it will be no wonder to find variety and difference. For if there be no prospect beyond the grave, the
inference is certainly right--"Let us eat and drink," let us enjoy what we "for to-morrow we shall die." This, I
think, may serve to show us the reason, why, though all men's desires tend to happiness, yet they are not moved
by the same object. Men may choose different things, and yet all choose right; supposing them only like a
company of poor insects; whereof some are bees, delighted with flowers and their sweetness; others beetles,
delighted with other kinds of viands, which having enjoyed for a season, they would cease to be, and exist no
more for ever.
