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FROM IIM-AHMEDABAD TO HAPPINESS
the skills of analyzing the cost-benefit of his efforts are concerned. He has, in abundance, the qualities of pretension, covetousness and tyranny. His efforts may lead him to a short period of prosperity during which the seeds of disintegration germinate and grow apace. And then, the reverse process begins, which involves the selfish in trouble quarrels, humiliation, and finally, to destruction. This kind of love is not worthy of any further elaboration here.
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The second kind of love is what the generality of men should employ in their life. Love begets love, and it is one smooth, peaceful and joyous existence with an ever-widening circle of friends, ever-increasing power and glory, and with no fear of loss or disharmony anywhere. We may apply this principle of love to small families and societies, or to great nations and empires; its working is uniform throughout. Let there be mutual hatred between husband and wife, and very soon home will cease to be happy; let the feeling of mutual distrust take possession of the hearts of men and it will disperse society; let disunion creep in among men in a nation and there will be civil wars. It is against the law of nature that hatred should be prosperous beyond certain limits, and because in hatred energy is dissipated needlessly, loss of power must ultimately result. History teaches us the important lesson that it is love which builds, establishes, and makes secure, and hatred which disunites, disperses, and destroys.
In the present state of human society it may be somewhat difficult to bring the idea of love and brotherhood into realization all at once, but because it is difficult to do so at once furnishes no excuse for not advancing, however slowly, towards it. The least one can do is to advance it towards those who come in one's direct contact. The benefits will be there to see: love abolishes differences, turns enemies into friends, and unites the several sections and classes of society into one harmonious whole.
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