"The fear of life is the favorite disease of the 20th century." ― William Lyon Phelps Topic(s): Life More From William Lyon Phelps "The final test of a gentleman is his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him." "Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good plays, good company, good conversation – what are they? They are the happiest people in the world." "If happiness truly consisted in physical ease and freedom from care, then the happiest individual would not be either a man or a woman; it would be, I think, an American cow." More In Life "To be free is to have achieved your life."― Tennessee Williams "There are old heads in the world who cannot help me by their example or advice to live worthily and satisfactorily to myself; but I believe that it is in my power to elevate myself this very hour above the common level of my life."― Henry David Thoreau "I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy."― Rabindranath Tagore