IfIwereaboyagain,Iwouldpractiseperseverancemoreoften,andnevergiveupathingbecauseitwashardorinconvenient.Ifwewantlight,wemustconquerdarkness.
IfIweretolivemylifeoveragain,Iwouldpaymoreattentiontothecultivationofthememory.Iwouldstrengthenthatfacultybyeverypossiblemeans,andoneverypossibleoccasion.Ittakesalittlehardworkatfirsttorememberthingsaccurately;butmemorysoonhelpsitself,andgivesverylittletrouble.Itonlyneedsearlycultivationtobecomeapower.
IfIwereaboyagain,Iwouldlookonthecheerfulsides.Lifeisverymuchlikeamirror:Ifyousmileuponit,itsmilesbackuponyou;butifyouflownandlookdoubtfulonit,youwillgetasimilarlookinreturn.Innersunshinewarmsnotonlytheheartoftheowner,butofallthatcomeincontactwithit."Whoshutsloveout,inturnshallbeshutfromlove."
IfIwereaboyagain,Iwouldschoolmyselftosay"no"oftener.Imightwritepagesontheimportanceoflearningveryearlyinlifetogainthatpointwhereayoungboycanstanderect,anddeclinedoinganunworthyactbecauseitisunworthy.
IfIwereaboyagain,Iwoulddemandofmyselfmorecourtesytowardsmycompanionsandmyfriends,andindeedtowardsstrangersaswell.Thesmallestcourtesiesalongtheroughroadsoflifearelikethelittlebirdsthatsingtousallwinterlong,andmakethatseasonoficeandsnowmoreendurable.
Finally,insteadoftryinghardtobehappy,asifthatwerethesolepurposeoflife,Iwould,ifIwereaboyagain,Iwouldstilltryhardertomakeothershappy.