Happiness as Found in Forethought Minus Fearthought

by Horace Fletcher

As "perfect love casteth out fear," so does the eradication of fear insure the wooing of perfect love.

ALTRUISM.

Next in the scale of importance is Comte's word "altruism," which was coined to suggest the Christ-like attitude of unselfish service between fellow-men. It is, however, as before stated, now commonly understood to be the social or business application of the principle of love which needs and expects to be reciprocal. Men were asked to become altruists when they were asked to "do unto others as you would that others should do unto you." Growth towards divinity is the fruit of perfect altruism. Perfect Love begets Perfect Altruism. Christ is the Perfect Altruist.

SPONTANEOUS ALTRUISM.

Any degree of altruism is good and is sure to lead to higher degrees, but the perfect type is best kept in view by the use of the qualified form expressed by the adjective "spontaneous"—meaning voluntary, without reward, except as found in the act itself. This qualification is almost necessary to prevent the lowering of the value of the term, as "perfect" was required to express Christ-Love, in contra-distinction to worldly love.

OPTIMISM.

Optimism is forethought. Christianity, pure and undefiled, is perfect optimism. Christ is the Perfect Optimist.[2]

FORETHOUGHT.

"Forethought" is the logical, trustful, hopeful, Christian, and therefore stimulating, consideration of the future.