IfIwereaboyagain,Iwouldpracticeperseveranceoftener,andnevergiveupathingbecauseitwashardorinconvenient.Ifwewantlight,wemustconquerdarkness.IfIweretolivemylifeoveragain,Iwouldpaymoreattentiontothecultivationofthememory.Iwouldstrengthenthatfacultybyeverypossiblemeans,andoneverypossibleoccasion.
Ittakesalittlehardworkatfirsttorememberthingsaccurately;butmemorysoonhelpsitself,andgivesverylittletrouble.Itonlyneedsearlycultivationtobecomeapower.IfIwereaboyagain,Iwouldlookonthecheerfulside.Lifeisverymuchlikeamirrorifyousmileuponit,itsmilesbackuponyou;butifyoufrownandlookdoubtfulonit,youwillgetasimilarlookinreturn.
Innersunshinewarmsnotonlytheheartoftheowner,butofallthatcomeincontactwithit.“Whoshutsloveout,inturnshallbeshutfromlove.”IfIwereaboyagain,Iwouldschoolmyselftosay“No”oftener.Imightwritepagesontheimportanceoflearningveryearlyinlifetogainthatpointwhereayoungboycanstanderect,anddeclinedoinganunworthyactbecauseitisunworthy.
IfIwereaboyagain,Iwoulddemandofmyselfmorecourtesytowardsmycompanionsandfriends,andindeedtowardsstrangersaswell.Thesmallestcourtesiesalongtheroughroadsoflifearelikethelittlebirdsthatsingtousallwinterlong,andmakethatseasonoficeandsnowmoreendurable.Finally,insteadoftryinghardtobehappy,asifthatwerethesolepurposeoflife,Iwould,ifIwereaboyagain,trystillhardertomakeothershappy.