by achieving some worthy enterprise either in war or peace. Many measure
good by joy and mirth, and their chiefest care is how they may abound
with pleasure. Some interchange the ends and means of these things one
with the other, wanting now riches for the sake of power and pleasure,
now power for the sake of wealth and fame. At these and such other do
men's actions and desires aim, as nobility and popularity, which make
men esteemed; wife and children, which bring pleasure and delight. But
friendship, that most sacred thing, is rather to be attributed to virtue
than to fortune. Other things for the most part are desired either for
power or pleasure. And it is an easy matter to reduce all corporal goods
to the former heads. For strength and greatness give ability; beauty and
swiftness, fame; and health yieldeth pleasure. By all which we
manifestly seek for nothing else but happiness. For that which every man
seeketh most after, is by him esteemed his greatest good. Which is all
one with happiness. Wherefore he esteemeth that estate happy which he
preferreth before all other.

And thus thou hast in a manner seen the form of human felicity--riches,
honour, power, glory, pleasure. Which Epicurus only considering,
consequently took pleasure for his chiefest good, because all the rest
seemed to delight the mind. But I return to the careful thoughts of men,
whose minds, though obscured, yet seek after the greatest good, but like
a drunken man know not the way home. For seem they to err who endeavour
to want nothing? But nothing can cause happiness so much as the
plentiful possession of all that is good, needing the help of none, but
is sufficient of itself. Or do they err who take that which is best to
be likewise most worthy of respect? No. For it is no vile or
contemptible thing which almost all men labour to obtain. Or is not
power to be esteemed good? Why, then, is that to be accounted feeble and
of no force, which manifestly surpasses all other things? Or is fame to
be contemned? But it cannot be ignored that the most excellent is also
most famous. For to what purpose should I say that happiness is not sad
or melancholy, or subject to grief and trouble, when even in smallest
matters we desire that which we delight to have and enjoy? And these be
the things which men desire to obtain, and to this end procure riches,
dignities, kingdoms, glory, and pleasure