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Lesson 46 Hobbies业余爱好 A gifted American psychologist has said, Worry is aspasm of the emotion; the mind catches hold of something and will not let itgo. It is useless to argue with the mind in this condition. Thestronger the will, the more futile the task. One can only gently insinuatesomething else into its convulsive grasp. And if this something else is rightlychosen, if it is really attended by the illumination of another field ofinterest, gradually, and often quite swiftly, the old undue grip relaxes andthe process of recuperation and repair begins. The cultivation of a hobby and new forms of interest is therefore apolicy of the first importance to a public man. But this is not a business thatcan be undertaken in a day or swiftly improvised by a mere command of the will.The growth of alternative mental interests is a long process. The seeds must becarefully chosen; they must fall on good ground; they must be sedulouslytended, if the vivifying fruits are to be at hand when needed. To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least twoor three hobbies, and they must all be real. It is no use starting late in lifeto say: I will take an interest in this or that. Such anattempt only aggravates the strain of mental effort. A man may acquire greatknowledge of topics unconnected with his daily work, and yet get hardly anybenefit or relief. It is no use doing what you like; you have got to like whatyou do. Broadly speaking, human beings may be divided into three classes: thosewho are toiled to death, those who are worried to death, and those who arebored to death. It is no use offering the manual laborer, tired out with a hardweeks sweat and effort, the chance of playing a game of football or baseballon Saturday afternoon. It is no use inviting the politician or the professionalor business man, who has been working or worrying about serious things for sixdays, to work or worry about trifling things at the weekend. | 
