Articles by "English Essay"
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 Addressing Social Challenges: Confronting Evils in Pakistan

Introduction: Confronting the Shadow of Social Evils

In the diverse fabric of Pakistani society, there exist deep-rooted social evils that pose significant challenges to the nation's progress, prosperity, and well-being. From entrenched gender inequality to pervasive poverty, from rampant corruption to the scourge of religious intolerance, these social maladies undermine the fabric of society and hinder the realization of Pakistan's full potential.


Understanding the Landscape of Social Evils

Gender Inequality and Women's Rights

Despite progress in recent years, gender inequality remains a pervasive issue in Pakistan, with women facing discrimination and violence in various spheres of life. Deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and cultural traditions perpetuate gender disparities in education, employment, and political participation, denying women equal opportunities and rights.


Poverty and Income Inequality

Poverty remains a pressing challenge in Pakistan, with a significant portion of the population living below the poverty line. Economic disparities, unequal distribution of resources, and lack of access to basic services contribute to the cycle of poverty, depriving millions of Pakistanis of adequate food, shelter, and healthcare.


Corruption and Governance Issues

Corruption permeates various levels of Pakistani society, undermining institutional integrity, eroding public trust, and hindering socio-economic development. Cronyism, nepotism, and bribery plague government institutions, stifling innovation, impeding progress, and perpetuating inequality and injustice.


Religious Intolerance and Extremism

Pakistan grapples with religious intolerance and sectarian violence, fueled by extremist ideologies and political agendas. Minority communities, including Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis, face discrimination, persecution, and violence, undermining the nation's pluralistic heritage and fostering a climate of fear and mistrust.


Strategies for Addressing Social Evils

Empowering Women and Promoting Gender Equality

Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment is essential to addressing social inequalities and advancing sustainable development in Pakistan. Investing in girls' education, economic empowerment, and legal protections can help break the cycle of poverty and discrimination, fostering inclusive growth and social cohesion.


Tackling Poverty through Social Welfare Programs

Combatting poverty requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying structural and institutional factors driving economic inequality. Implementing social welfare programs, providing targeted assistance to vulnerable populations, and promoting inclusive economic policies can help reduce poverty and improve livelihoods for millions of Pakistanis.


Strengthening Institutions and Fighting Corruption

Building transparent, accountable, and responsive institutions is crucial to combating corruption and promoting good governance in Pakistan. Strengthening anti-corruption laws, enhancing transparency and oversight mechanisms, and promoting citizen engagement can help root out corruption and restore public trust in government institutions.


Promoting Interfaith Harmony and Tolerance

Fostering interfaith harmony and tolerance is essential to combating religious extremism and sectarian violence in Pakistan. Promoting interfaith dialogue, protecting the rights of religious minorities, and countering extremist narratives can help build a more inclusive and pluralistic society, where all citizens can coexist peacefully regardless of their religious beliefs.


Conclusion: Towards a Brighter Future for Pakistan

In conclusion, addressing the social evils in Pakistan requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society, including government, civil society, and the private sector. By tackling gender inequality, poverty, corruption, and religious intolerance head-on, Pakistan can build a more equitable, prosperous, and harmonious society for future generations.


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The Crucial Role of Media in Shaping Pakistan's Political Landscape 

Introduction: Understanding the Nexus between Media and Politics

In the dynamic realm of Pakistan's political landscape, the media plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, influencing policy decisions, and holding those in power accountable. From traditional print and broadcast outlets to the ever-expanding digital sphere, media platforms wield immense influence in shaping the discourse surrounding political issues in the country.


The Evolution of Media in Pakistan: From Censorship to Freedom

Emergence of a Free Press

Pakistan's media landscape has undergone a significant transformation over the years, transitioning from a state-controlled apparatus to a vibrant and independent industry. Following the liberalization of media policies in the early 2000s, there was a proliferation of private television channels, radio stations, and online news portals, providing citizens with unprecedented access to information and diverse viewpoints.


Challenges and Controversies

However, this newfound freedom has not been without its challenges. Media outlets often face pressure from political parties, government authorities, and powerful interest groups, leading to instances of censorship, intimidation, and self-censorship. Moreover, the rise of sensationalism, misinformation, and biased reporting has raised concerns about the credibility and ethical standards of journalism in Pakistan.


The Role of Media in Political Awareness and Education

Informing the Public

One of the primary functions of the media in Pakistan is to inform the public about political developments, government policies, and socio-economic issues. Through news reports, investigative journalism, and analysis programs, media outlets play a crucial role in educating citizens about their rights, responsibilities, and the workings of the political system.


Shaping Public Opinion

Media coverage can significantly influence public opinion and perceptions of political leaders, parties, and policies. Through news reports, editorials, talk shows, and social media discussions, media platforms shape the narrative surrounding key political issues, framing debates, and shaping public discourse. In this way, the media acts as a watchdog, scrutinizing the actions of those in power and holding them accountable to the electorate.


Media as a Platform for Political Debate and Discourse

Facilitating Dialogue and Debate

Media platforms provide a space for political actors, experts, and citizens to engage in meaningful dialogue and debate on pressing issues facing the nation. Talk shows, panel discussions, and public forums allow for the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and solutions, fostering a more informed and participatory democracy.


Amplifying Voices of Marginalized Groups

The media also plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, including women, minorities, and socio-economically disadvantaged groups. By providing a platform for their concerns, grievances, and aspirations, media outlets help ensure that their perspectives are heard and their rights are upheld in the political process.


Conclusion: Navigating the Complex Interplay of Media and Politics

In conclusion, the role of media in Pakistan politics is multifaceted and complex, encompassing elements of information dissemination, opinion shaping, and democratic accountability. While the media serves as a vital source of information and a forum for political debate, it also faces challenges related to censorship, bias, and ethical standards. As Pakistan continues to navigate its democratic journey, it is essential to uphold the principles of press freedom, journalistic integrity, and media plurality to ensure a vibrant and informed public discourse.


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2nd Year English Essay My Last Day at College

My Last day at college is a memorable day in my life. Whenever I remember this day, my eyes become wet. It is the day when I parted from my dear friends. The parting from friends was a hurting experience. That day has engrossed in my memory and I cannot forget it. My stay at college and the period I spent there is a valuable one in my life. This glorious period had to come to an end one day. And that day is April 27, 2019.
“Life is the name of the movement”
My last day at college is still present in the core of my memory. It was a day of excitement and emotions. We, the students of 2nd year were given a farewell party by our juniors, the students of 1st year. It was never so that I leave for college in time. But that day, I broke the record and reached the college on time. The teaching sessions were paused for that special day to say us goodbye.

I reached the college and met my beloved friends who were now ready to be separated. I had a slight talk with each of them and then we took nice photos of various portions of our college. I took some photos of the library, my classroom, canteen and Computer lab. All these things and everything of my college fascinated me on that day. I had strange feelings on that day; it was neither joy nor sadness.

Now the stage was ready with a farewell ceremony in our honor. We all reached the venue and had our seats. A boy from our juniors recited the verses of the Holy Quran to give a noble start to the function. Sir Ahmad Ali was the host. He spoke so well on that day. He is known for his fluent accent and occasion-specific poetry. He is a good orator. That day, he surprised us by singing to us his own poems.

A sequence of performances from various participants came to an end and our principal, a great scholar, was invited to the stage to deliver last speech to us. We were anxious and were eagerly waiting for the principal to speak. He made a splendid speech which not only made us burst into tears but also filled us with motivation and spirit.

He thanked us for being part of that institution and told us how much good time he had with us. That day, I first time realized that our principal had a special attachment with all of us.

It is never easy to uphold listening the words that sooths you soul and give you extreme comfort”. (Sober Sandy)

Our principal advised us to be optimistic in life. He asked us to work hard, to focus on our strengths, to take the initiatives with courage and the strong belief in Allah. He also gave many inspirational examples from daily life. After the ceremony was over, we were served with Chicken Biryani, Chicken Qourma and Naans. We enjoyed the meal well. We were talking to each other while eating. Everyone was busy with someone. The dining hall was full of waves of laughter. I cannot forget the taste of that meal. I miss that day so much and the lunch session is a major factor behind this.

After the meal was over, we met our professors one by one. They all were friendly and helpful. They gave us tips and guidance for future life and career planning. They all gave us many important pieces of advice. We all thanked them. We also met our juniors and thanked them for the superb farewell.

It was 3:30 PM when I left for home with a heavy heart after embracing my best friends with the rain of tears. I was not feeling well while returning home. I could not sleep that night. The tears were falling from my eyes when I was trying to sleep amidst the painful fact that college period had finished.
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2nd Year English Essay My First Day at College

My first day at college is a memorable day in my life. As soon as I took my last paper of Matriculation exams, I planned to visit various colleges for the admissions in Pre-classes. I began to visit various colleges along with my two other friends.


The pre-classes were offered free of fees by almost all the colleges we visited. The final admissions were to be made after the announcement of Secondary School Examination by the boards. Finally, we decided to join pre-classes sessions at Punjab College. They told us the exact date of the commencement of the classes. We were told to reach the college at 9:00 am on the given day.


On the first day, I got up early and after saying my Fajar Prayer, I spent most of the time getting myself ready before we set off for the college on a motorbike.


I had a strange feeling as if I had achieved some great target in my life. I was thinking about the thrill and excitement of college life. At the same time, I had a strange fear. I was afraid that how would I compete with other students of the college. There must be the boys who are more intelligent than me. I had the idea that I may not understand the concepts well and the syllabus will be tough and that is too in English medium. All this made me lose my confidence on the first day.


We reached college in time. After parking the motorbike we tried to enter the main gate. There was a boy who stopped us. He looked like a guard or a watchman of the college. He demanded 50 rupees as a bike parking fee. We were surprised. I could not think that a well-reputed college of the town would have fixed a parking fee for the students.


I told him that we were newcomers but he told us to pull out our bike from the parking stand and park it almost a half kilometer to the south of the college if we do not pay him the parking fee. Meanwhile, some other boys for the college came and they confirmed that the parking fee is mandatory. We paid him Rs 50 and went in. Later we discovered that they were seniors who fooled on us.

We asked a student who looked senior about the orientation class. He pointed to a big room and asked us to go there. We went there and found that it was a toilet block. We
were again fooled by seniors.


Anyhow, We found a professor-looking man and we asked him about the orientation class. He told us to wait in the hall as the class was not yet ready. He told us that the class would start in a few minutes when some more students would reach.


We were waiting in the hall when a boy told us that the class had begun. We went in and there was a young gentleman on the dais addressing the students.

As we entered the room, he pointed us to go on the back to sit down. He asked another boy to collect 20 rupees each for handouts. All the students gave 20 rupees each. They had just collected the money when two professors entered the hall and the boys who were collecting money for handouts quickly slipped out of the hall. We were told that those were seniors fooling on us.

The teacher gave us an orientation of the course and norms and discipline of the college life. He told us about the various facilities the college offered. He explained various fields and scope of pre-medical, pre-engineering and ICS. The principle of the college addressed us and told us the difference between school life and college life. He inspired us to be critical and take new steps courageously. That day, I was proud of being a college student. After the orientation class, we were allowed to explore the college. We went into the library. We also visited various departments. A boy asked us to come to the playground for a sports period. But we at once realized that he was a senior. No sports period was in process.

I decided to take biology as I found my interest in the medical field. We left for home as the formal classes were to commence two days later.
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Insurance in Pakistan: Safeguarding Your Future

Introduction

Historical Perspective
    The Genesis of Insurance in Pakistan
    Post-Independence Era
Types of Insurance in Pakistan
    Life Insurance
    Health Insurance
    Motor Insurance
    Property Insurance
The Significance of Insurance
    Financial Security
    Investment Opportunities
    Economic Stability
Challenges Faced by the Insurance Industry
    Low Insurance Penetration
    Regulatory Hurdles
    Lack of Awareness
The Future of Insurance in Pakistan
    Technological Advancements
    Customized Insurance Solutions
    Growth in Microinsurance
Conclusion

 Introduction

In a world filled with uncertainties, insurance acts as a financial safety net. In Pakistan, the insurance industry has seen significant growth and transformation over the years. This 2500-word essay will delve into the world of insurance in Pakistan, exploring its evolution, types, significance, challenges, and the future outlook. Let's embark on a journey to understand how insurance plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the future of individuals and businesses in Pakistan.

Historical Perspective

The Genesis of Insurance in Pakistan

Insurance in Pakistan dates back to the British colonial era when the first insurance companies were established to cover marine and fire risks. These companies primarily catered to the needs of British merchants and colonial interests.

Post-Independence Era

After Pakistan gained independence in 1947, the insurance sector underwent a transformation. The government took steps to regulate and promote indigenous insurance companies, setting the stage for the growth of the industry.

Types of Insurance in Pakistan

Life Insurance

Life insurance provides financial protection to the policyholder's family in case of their untimely demise. It has gained popularity as people increasingly recognize the importance of securing their loved ones' financial future.

Health Insurance

The rising cost of healthcare has made health insurance a necessity. It covers medical expenses, ensuring that individuals can access quality healthcare without worrying about the financial burden.

Motor Insurance

With the increasing number of vehicles on Pakistan's roads, motor insurance has become mandatory. It safeguards vehicle owners from financial losses due to accidents or theft.

Property Insurance

Property insurance protects homeowners and businesses from the financial repercussions of damage to their properties caused by events like fire, natural disasters, or theft.

The Significance of Insurance

Financial Security

Insurance provides a safety net in times of crisis. It ensures that individuals and businesses do not face insurmountable financial challenges when unexpected events occur.

Investment Opportunities

Certain insurance policies, such as endowment plans, offer the dual benefit of insurance coverage and investment. Policyholders can grow their wealth over time while enjoying insurance protection.

Economic Stability

The insurance industry contributes significantly to Pakistan's economy by mobilizing funds and supporting various sectors through investments.

Challenges Faced by the Insurance Industry

Low Insurance Penetration

Despite its importance, insurance penetration in Pakistan remains relatively low. Many people are unaware of the benefits of insurance or do not consider it a priority.

Regulatory Hurdles

Stringent regulations and compliance requirements can pose challenges for insurance companies, making it difficult for them to innovate and expand their services.

Lack of Awareness

A lack of awareness about the different types of insurance and their benefits hinders the industry's growth. Education and awareness campaigns are crucial to addressing this issue.

The Future of Insurance in Pakistan

Technological Advancements

The insurance industry is embracing technology, with the introduction of online platforms and mobile apps for policy purchase and claims processing. This trend is expected to continue, making insurance more accessible and efficient.

Customized Insurance Solutions

Insurance companies are increasingly offering customized policies tailored to individual needs. This personalization is likely to attract more customers.

Growth in Microinsurance

Microinsurance, which caters to the needs of low-income individuals, is gaining traction in Pakistan. It can play a vital role in extending insurance coverage to underserved populations.

Conclusion

Insurance in Pakistan has come a long way from its colonial origins to become an essential part of people's lives. It provides financial security, investment opportunities, and contributes to economic stability. However, challenges such as low penetration and regulatory hurdles must be addressed for the industry to reach its full potential. With technological advancements and customized solutions, the future of insurance in Pakistan looks promising.

 

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LIBERTY MUST BE LIMITED IN ORDER TO BE ENJOYED
CSS 1963

Outline:
The wrong idea of early days that majority of people could not be free The need for the discipline and law We must control our thoughts Bad habit of sinning and repenting.

In early days, it was thought that large sections of the population could not be free. The Vaish in ancient India, the serfs under the feudal system in England, and similar classes were born to serve nobles and land owners. But the nobles were not exempted from service, for they had duties and obligations to the king. In some cases, the European king owed service to an emperor, and the emperor possibly had to regard the wishes of the pope. The pope w is strictly attached to the laws of God. so no man is free.
How could we have a school or a factory in which the pupils or the workers are entirely free? Can we say that a man may come into his work of stay away, just as he likes? Can we say that a school boy may enter his class in lime or late, according to his pleasure? Certainly not. It would mean a break-down of all organized institution? Man lives in a society a community. He is not solitary. When men are gathered together, there must be discipline. If a number of men are on some work they will gel together and elect a captain or a leader, and will submit to him. In a sense they are giving up some of their freedom, because there will be disputes and disagreements. In society we have to submit to government and we elect our leader. There must be law, and it must be enforced. An English writer. Mill, was a great supporter of freedom for the individual. He was an enemy of State Control. He found it difficult to settle such questions as "Should a man be at liberty to drink liquor or is the Stale justified in prohibiting it“? Mill decided that a man who wants to drink should be allowed to drink, provided that there is nothing in his acts that is a trouble or annoyance to others. In other words, a man can do what he like, with his own body and mind but must not trespass on the rights and claims of others. All will not agree with this but may feel that the duty of a good government is to consider the weakness of the poor man. and to prevent him from getting liquor.
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WOULD IT BE TRUE TO SAY THAT MOST UNHAPPY PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN THE
LEAST CAUSE FOR BEING UNHAPPY
(CSS 1963)

Outline:

The wrong notion of serious people _____The love of cheerfulness_____.The optimistic attitude _____.The wonders of a good laugh _____۔۔ The scarcity of laughter in our daily life.

Many people have ruined their power of laughter. They have no rebound, no elasticity. To them the sense of humour is a weakness. Life is a thing to be taken seriously, they say. These people feel the weight of the'woes of the world: They are loaded down with this responsibility. They cannot understand how anybody can take such a light, flippant view of life as to spend time in fun making. They give us the impression that the whole universe would slop. The go around with a serious aggrieved air as though the world rested upon their shoulders. They should know that happiness is scattered round them. They can find it everywhere. There is no cause for being unhappy. 

No matter what their work may be; they should learn to find happiness everywhere. The love of cheerfulness can be cultivated life any other faculty, and in practical life, it will be worth more to them than a college education with out it. This is wealth that can accumulate the wealth of joy.

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MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE

CSS English Essay

Outline:

  • Man a combination of soul and body
  • Body's requirements
  • Man's greediness
  • The virtue of contentment
  • The thirst for knowledge. the strongest impulse in man
  • The real aim of a scientist
  • Man's interest in arts and literature
  • The head of a family bread winner and the relation of love
  • Emotions, intelligence forming the basis of man's character
  • Man's sacrifices for ideal, religion and country
  • The limitation of this maxim A balanced attitude


It is a reference from, the Holy Bible, according to which man needs many more things tor his living apart from bread

Although man has certainly a soul, yet we must remember that the soul does .not live apart from the body,- The body requires food and comfort, and the mind is inseparably connected with the 1 body. It is because man requires food (and also clothing and many other things) that he is. alway s eager to earn money with which he purchases commodities. Man is always engaged in the pursuit of wealth. It seems that if he can have enough money, he will have material com forts, and these will make him happy.

Most of us live in want, and therefore, it is natural for us to think that if we can satisfy our physical needs, we shall, be happy. But a little reflection will make it, clear that this is a one-sided view of human life. If we go on satisfying our wants, we shall find that the satisfaction of one need does not bring contentment, it only creates new and ever new needs. From bullock carts we came to carriages, from carriages to trains and from trains to motors and aeroplanes. Still the hunger for more and more comfortable conveyance will continue. This is true of every other amenity of life. First we satisfy our needs, and then we want luxuries and of luxuries there is no end.

The problem is not solved if man is contented with little. If he lives on what he can get easily, his time will not be taken up with.

the quest for wealth. Then too, he must have something else to live for Bread-winning cannot be a major occupation for him. He roust have other pursuits, other interests if he has to live at all.

The fact  is that although man has a body which requires to be fed. he also has a mind that has needs and desires, that are not always connected with hunger or love for pleasure. Man does require bread and ‘other material things, but they constitute only a part of his life. He does not need these alone. The thirst for knowledge, which some people consider the strongest impulse in man, is independent of the desire for'comfort although knowledge gives us power and thus improves our material circumstances. "Science has added immeasurably to man's comforts and conveniences, but the great scientist - Galileo or Newton or Einstein - pursues science out of a disinterested love for knowledge, and the application of science to improve material conditions is for him only a by-product. .

What is true of science is more true of arts and literature, which, from .material" point of view, are useless or worse than useless. 'Age' after, age, jnan has delighted in poetry, he has sung songs and painted pictures and found ineffable joy in these activities. He has interested him self in those activities not because They have helped him to earn his bread - sometimes they, have done the opposite - but because he has imagination and because his life of emotions has appeared to him to be as important as his physical life. His intellect has taken, him, to science. and philosophy, and his imagination and his eruptions have found expression in art and literature.

Most men are. neither scientists nor philosophers, neither poets nor artists. But they, too, have a rich fund of emotions which play the most important part in their lives. The head of a family is called the bread-winner: superficially his most important function is to earn the wherewithal to feed his wife and children. But the relationship is not merely that of a bread-winner and his dependents. . It is relation of love and affection, and it is because of this relation that he faces thedo.il of earning, his Livelihood and theirs. It is on our loves and attachments, our jealousies and hatreds that the life of us all is centred it is from this storehouse of emotions that we all derive sustenance. A few men Commit suicide when they cannot find food, but most, side ides out of some sorrow or disappointment.

It is emotions and our intelligence that form the basis of man's character, and unoften it is found that character is stronger than the urge of material needs. Men in all ages have made great sacrifices for an ideal religion, patriotism or some oilier things which was proved stronger than the desire for food and the attachment to material things. All men do not make such large sacrifices, but even, man at some moment or other feels that there arc principles and causes that are superior to the claims of physical well being, that there arc nobler things than bread. Bread winning may take most of his time; but it does not absorb the whole of his being. Although he may not be able to live up to the ideal, he knows that the ideal exists, and it is this consciousness that really makes, a man of him.

In the sordid struggle of life it is good to, remember now and then that man does, not live by bread alone. But we should not exaggerate the value of the saying. Generally men who have not only bread but also Cakes, who live in comfort and luxury teach the poor that man does not live by bread alone. The poor man who cannot find two meals a day knows how necessary bread is to life. It is comfortable? life that gives main the health and leisure to enjoy' the delicacies of emotion or the subtler beauties of poetry and fine arts. Man docs, not indeed, live by bread alone. But he requires bread if he has to live at all. No amount of poetry or philosophy can pass over the hard realities of life. Man's primary right is the right to live, which is also the right to cat. and then only,can he think of the nobler aspects of life.

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THE FACE IS AN INDEX OF CHARACTER

CSS English Essay

Outline:

  • Character forms faces
  • Faces are sometimes deceptive it first sight
  • The art of reading faces

A man's face, if we can read it aright, is generally an index to his character. We can tell what sort of man he is by the expression of his countenance, as we can tell the spices of a shell fish by its shell: for as a shell fish secretes its shell, so the sou! secretes its physical face. It is we ourselves who make our faces: and we make them gradually and unconsciously and to express our inner character. Character is simply the sum total of confirmed habits; and as a habit is formed, it slowly writes its characteristic mark on the face, and gives its own look to the eyes. It is harder to read character in the faces of young unformed children than in the faces of grow up men and women, though one can often detect meanness or frankness even in the face of a child; but the older people get. and the more fixed their habits, the easier it becomes to tel! what sort of people they art from their faces.

There are certain kinds of faces which almost anyone can read. The character is written in capitals on the face. You cannot mistake the red and bloated face of the drunkard, the pride in the face of the arrogant, the crafty look in the eyes of the sneak. But it Takes a trained and careful observer to read some faces, for some clever people can make their faces like masks to hide their real selves. The word "hypocrite" literally means actor; and as an actor can make up his face so as to appear on the stage a different person, so can a hypocrite. A false hearted man may have an apparently frank and open face: cruel man may wear a deceptively kindly smile; a rogue may look very honest sight. As Hamlet says. "A man may smile and smile, and be a villain." A member once being introduced to an old gentleman of most benign aspect', who appeared to be a benevolent' and almost saintly old man: yet i knew he had been guilty of several rumless and deliberate crimes!.

But the face has always something that will betray such, hypocrites to an acute observer; especially in the most expressive features, the eyes and the mouth. A look in the eyes, the way in which he shapes .his mouth, may betray the hidden meanness, cruelty, craftiness or selfishness that lurk behind the friendly smile and the frank look. Certain it is that dishonesty, lust and cruelty, honesty, purity and kindness., all, leave indelible mark on the face.
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THE FACE IS AN INDEX TO THE MIND

CSS English Essay

Outline:

  • Face reflecting the characteristics
  • The different expressions of a child's and younger's faces
  • Man's inability to hide his emotions
  • Faces are highly trained become a complete mask in politics
  • The usefulness of hiding the emotion in emergencies
  • A certain minimum of pretentiousness. necessary to move in society
  • Fits of depression difficult to hide
  • "One may smile, and smile, and be a villain." Hamlet
It is one of the afflictions of a lonely life to find one's thoughts occasionally a little too insistent. I pass a good deal of my time in reading books and now and then my servant can judge from my face whether the book I am reading is happy or gloomy. For one's thoughts flit across the mind, the face reflects their characteristics. Often, as one reads Voltaire, one breaks out into a guffaw, or puts the book aside and stares into space revolving in his mind Voltaire's thoughts and wondering at his wit and clear headedness.

The face always reflects the mind amongst children. the young and sincere persons. A child is the most egotistical of creatures but he makes no effort to hide his egoism, I 'know of a child who began to cry loudly when his mother paid any attention to his father, because the child thought that the mother belonged to him. and the father had no right to share her with hint. Youth is the period when emotions work havoc with us. and they are so powerful that no effort of will can entirely control them. It is also the period when we fall in love. Lovers arc so absorbed in their ownselves or in each other, that they think other human being do not exist, and tend to ignore them. Nothing can hide love. I remember a scene in Piccadilly when two lovers were going arm in arm and billing and cooing to each other as if they were upon the desert island of Robinson Crusoe.

entirely oblivious of the rest of the world. School boys can read each other's thoughts like a book.

Youth passes and a time comes when we begin to hide Our , emotions. Life is cruel and brings with it crosses, disappointments and failures. The sensitive man tries to hide his disappointments from the rest of the world. He does not crave for sympathy but for fortitude. He tries to make his face into a mask though not always successfully.

No man knew how to suffer so patiently as Spinoza., He sought consolation only in himself, and the only suffering that affected him was that of others. He know better than ancone the excesses of which men are capable, and yet when the Dutch mob tore De Witt to pieces, he could not restrain himself from shuddering at the cruel sight and shed tears. Even Spinoza, so used to mastering the 'troubles of the soul could not make his face into a complete mask.

There are certain professions in life in which it is essential that the face should be trained to become a complete mask. These are low politics and diplomacy The Prince of Wales used to shake hands with hundreds of people every week, and to each he had to give the impression that he was personally interested in him. At a prize giving function the guest of the evening must be bored, stiff with the speeches that he hears, and the prizes that he distributes, yet he must keep a cheerful expression and show that he is enjoying himself. The advocate sometime knows that his client's case is weak, yet he has to cross-examine the witnesses with great apparent 0 to show that he is engaged in a just plaint. As for politicians there are . few who are not opportunists.'Take for instance our party leaders.

Ulema's and religious leaders these days. They can work the mob up into work a fury of fervour and make them do almost anything. When the police or the troops open fire on the law breaking mob; the leaders are nowhere in sight. Yet they profess to work in the’ interests of the masses. Their faces are such mask that not a single character. In diplomacy one has to negotiate with one's enemy at the same table silting like the best of friends. It was of people of this type that I lamlet said: “One may smile, and smile, and be a villain."

Having control of one's features, not allowing the face to index the mind, is useful in emergencies. In a great disaster, like the Earthquake (8th October 2005). those who were doing the salvage work, had to appear calm, and optimistic, though the vultures of anxiety for their dear ones may have been tearing their hearts.

A certain minimum of hypocrisy is necessary in order to move in society. The face must be trained to those emotions only which we want it to show, not those that are actually in our mind. If I meet a man on the Mall and he tells me that the uncle of his brother-in-law's wife has caught a cold. I must at once pull a long face and as piously that I hope, he will soon get over it. We have to train our face to reflect the emotions of those Whom we meet every day. otherwise social intercourse will be impossible.

The hardest to hide and overcome are fits of depression. The face refuse to obey the will and the blues will be out. We poor, single men are rather handicapped in such a situation. Married men bully their wives, grumble at the dinner and insist on the children's going to bed. All of which creating as it does, a good deal of disturbance in the house, is a great relief to the feelings of the man in the blues. But the bachelor can only read poetry, sit in the dark, and think what a hollow world this is.

Yet there are occasions when the face must show the heart bidding long farewell to a friend at the railway station, or reading the news that an article of yours has been accepted by the press. Self-restraint on these occasions is not worth much. There is no harm in allowing the emotions to have a little pay now and then, because the saddest spectacle on earth is a man who has killed his feelings.

A good story has come from the First World War 1914-1918. Two men were facing machine-gun fire and the face of one was pale. The other said "You are afraid.” The first man replied "Yes. I am But if you were half as afraid as I am you would have run away. This shows that the face is not always a good index of the mind. Sometimes when we go to. some one to ask fora favour and he receives us stonily and says. "I will see what I can do about it” we wish his face showed more of his thought.
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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

CSS English Essay (PCS (J.)1997)


  • Outline:
  • Power an instinct of man 
  • Wrong notion of power associating with the strong
  • To know the secret of a thing is to control that thing
  • The victory In war depends on swiftness of movement, strength of will
  • The role of new weapon in war
  • The difference between the ancient man awed by ghosts, gods and the modern man' controlling the natural forces
  • Science of medicine
  • The art of leadership
  • Use of modern techniques in agriculture
  • Science of psychology enables man to control his impulses
  • It was Bacon, the great essayist who said that knowledge confers power on man


Men always want power, power over things, power over other men and power over themselves. The instinct for power is a fundamental instinct. Man can never rest until he has extended his power, and the history of civilization is. indeed, the history of man's conquest, the extension of his power in different spheres.

Generally we think that power belongs to the strong. If two wrestlers fight, we think that the stronger will win; in a battle the country with the larger army expects that it will be victorious. But a little reflection will make it clear that, th is is not so. Strength does play a part, but it is of no weight when pitted against knowledge. When we know the secrets of a thing, we can exercise control over it. because we know the way in which 'it can be moved. Strength without knowledge is blind. A blind giant cannot cope with a man who has sharp eyes.

In warfare, the side with a strong army has its advantages no doubt, but it will prove- ineffective against a leader equipped with better knowledge of. the secret of warfare. Take Alexander, for example, he defeated vast armies with only a band of Greek soldiers who had to fight away from their homeland. We say that this was due to Alexander's genius or his Generalship. But what was this.

genius or Generalship! It lay in swiftness of. movement, strength of will and some others virtues. But Alexander's principal virtue was knowledge- knowledge of his own men. knowledge of the Country of his enemy and his strength, knowledge of the tactics and strategy of warfare. This is the ultimate secret of success in all warfare. Other factors pla\ their part, but knowledge is supreme.

The fortunes of battles have in all ages been determined by the part played by new weapons. When gunpowder was invented it made short work of armies fighting with swords and spears. The last great war was brought to a close by the dropping of atom bombs. The history of modern warfare is to a large extent the history of new weapons from gunpowder to the atom bomb and these inventions are only indications of man's knowledge of the secrets of destruction.

How knowledge leads to power is best seen, in man's increasing control over forces of nature. In primitive times man had no knowledge of nature and thought that the trees and the hills were inhabited by spirits and fairies. He believed in ghosts and gods and was himself inert and powerless. But now man knows many of the mysteries of nature, and his knowledge is reflected in his daily growing power over natural forces. By controlling electricity man has made lightning his salve; he now floats over oceans and flies in the air. Man no longer looks with wonder and fear at a waterfall: he now- dams it and converts the water power to energy that irrigates his fields and runs his mills and factories.

Another valuable contribution which man's knowledge has made to his power is found in the science of medicine. In ancient times people thought that diseases were due to the malign influence of spirits and stars, and they would go to magicians or try to appease the-gods. But now-a-days man tries to find the causes of diseases inside the body and to trace them to purely material factors. This knowledge of the causes of diseases and also the properties of things has led to wonderful advances in the science of medicine. Man has not yet been able to control all diseases, but he has conquered many of them and has added to his longevity. This is possibly the most beneficent aspect of man's knowledge.

Knowledge helps men not only to control the forces of nature but also to exercise power over other men Politics is largely the art by means of which some men control others, and the\ do so chiefly through a knowledge of the secrets of human character. We see this not merely in the field of politics but also in our daily social contacts. The leader is one who possesses strength of will and capacity for taking the initiative, but he is pre-eminently the man who knows other men. Brutus, a noble idealist, kills Caesar and delivers a lofty speech before the Roman mob. He has little insight into human character and allows Caesar's friend Antony to make a speech after he himself has left the scene. The mob praised Brutus but did not understand the significance of his speech. Antony has knowledge of men and rather than talk of principles, he makes a ' speech gradually inflaming their passions and soon the mob is under his control.

The increase in power through the acquisition of knowledge is seen in every branch of human activity. Man no longer cultivates fields in a blind manner. The science is giving him knowledge of the .properties of soil. and. this enables him to produce increased quantities of food and other things. He studies even the way of animals and learns to control them better than his forefathers. Whether .it is the small insects eating up his crops or the wild, beasts in the jungles, man. is acquiring knowledge of all animals and is learning to protect himself against-them. Man is now the ruler of the kingdom of nature and. the kingdom of animals, because he has acquired knowledge of them.

Man's most recent, achievement is the increasing power he has Established over himself through, knowledge. This know-ledge is being, given to him,by the. science of psychology which analyses emotions, impulses reasoning and even dreams.. This science, goes beyond, consciousness into the . region. of the. unconscious. This enables man to control his .impulses and organize his mental powers. Insanity was originally supposed, to. be beyond man’s .control .and, attributed .to the gods. .But psychology has, shown that insanity is connected with repression, the cause of insanity will.be removed and the patient will become normal. This ,is, in a sense, the most wonderful of man's discoveries, and. it will, in future, not, only make, man more powerful but also a better and more rational creature.


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A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING

CSS English Essay

Outline:

  • Pope's saying and irony
  • Modern age of superficiality
  • Pitfalls made by journalist and'writer
  • Aldous Huxley's account of an exhibition of arts and crafts
  • Diversity, cause of superficial knowledge
  • The role of certain theories, dogmas in diverting man from the pursuit of knowledge
  • Shortcomings our little learning 
  • The humility of Newton
  • Man's haplessness before the vastness of the knowledge
  • Knowledge's purpose to shun the ignorance
  • The unending gratification of the desire of knowledge.


"A Little learning, ‘wrote Alexander Pope, is a dangerous thing.' We are much amused when we remember that Pope himself undertook to translate Homer without '(for all practical purposes) ' knowing much Greek! who would have known the pitfalls of a little know ledge better than he? So when he goes on to say in the next line "Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring, the thought has for us a certain ironical appositeness.

We live in the age of the superficiality. Everyone wants to show that he is learned, yet everyone is shallow. The methods of showing that one is learned are interesting. One of them is to ignore all that others know. Another is to ignore the common place, and . concentrates on something odd and out-of-the-way. If somebody begins to discuss Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights say that you prefer 'The tenant of Wildfell Hall'. In this way you will easily acquire a reputation for profound learning.

This pretence of profound learning is the pitfall into which the journalist in particular always falls. He must write airily of the odd and remote in order to conceal his ignorance of the near and the classical. He has no leisure. His profession makes him acquainted with a mass of miscellaneous and haphazard knowledge, which he is compelled to reproduce in his articles with an air of knowing, everything. The journalist is tempted to be readable and so he always tries to be original and unusual.

Is the Pierian Spring suited for everyone? Can everyone drink deep of it? The philosopher or the man of science may do so with safety, but of others the Pierian Spring makes only prigs.

Aldous Huxley, in an essay in “Alongrthe Road," gives an amusing account of an exhibition arts and crafts which he saw at Munich. In that exhibition every applied art was represented through' furniture, jewellery, ceramics, textiles. “The Germans." says Aldous Huxley, “know more about the artistic styles of the past than any other people in the world and their own art today is about as hopelessly dreary as any national art could well be. Its badness is. in mathematical terms, a function of its learnedness." This could be seen from such exhibits as these - A Maxican pot, decorated with Moorish arabesques; a Black Forest peasant's table standing on Egyptian legs. Learning may be good for poets, politicians, philosophers and businessmen - for the artist it is bad.

Good art demands intense' concentration. And excessive knowledge tends to make the type of concentration that art demands difficult.

For the superficial knowledge of our own times other things are responsible also. Men now-a-days have become so mercenary that they are not willing to undertake any serious work that “does not pay”. Intellect is valued only as a key to material prosperity. “He wastes his money on books; What good are they to him? “He is a carpenter, not a school-master.” Men do not realize that the brain is not a tool for exploiting our fellow-meh but-

To follow knowledge like a sinking star Beyond the utmost bounds of human thought.

“The French have a beautiful phrase in their language - 'la Joie de vivre." Parallel to this we can invent another phrase - "La Joie de sa voir, " The joy of knowledge is all unknown to money -makers.

There are certain theories .and dogmas which have diverted men and women from the pursuit of knowledge, and .made them , content with their ignorance and stupidity. Religious, teachers have made most of these dogmas. They have taught that man has .a body and a soul, but they have forgotten that man has-a mind also. The Cynics of Greece despised education and intellectual pursuits and declared that Virtue was the only Good. St. Basil is reported to have remarked very frankly : “It is a matter of no interest to .us whether the earth is a sphere, or a cylinder or a disc."

With this exaltation of stupidity and ignorance it is no wonder that we- suffer from all the shortcomings of a little learning Dogma in our country has gone to such lengths that we are always.

ready to shelve common sense in favour of some authority. Take such a glaring social evil of our country as early marriage. People riarfy because certain so called religious books have recommended this- practice. They are to quote chapter and verse to support their ideas. ’ call this one of the instances of a little learning. Let them go. behind the book into the mind of the author who made it. With such questions of scholarship as-when was this book written? Who wrote it our people have no concern. If they drank deeper of the pierian spring they would be compelled to throw away early marriage, casts, untouchability. and a good deal of their outworn and harmful theology.

The Greeks could not think of a higher word of respect than "philosopher" -lover of knowledge. Newton who knew so much, thought humbly that he was like a little child picking up pebbles on the shore, while the vast ocean of knowledge lay unexplored before him. My colleagues always try to give me. impression that while Newton collected pebbles of knowledge painfully, it has been their pastime to collect boulders of it.

Knowledge is long and life is short, and even the best of us must be content to have only a little of it. If we could live for hundreds of year, instead of a few decades, we could not have enough time to acquire all the knowledge that there is. All the ills of humanity arise from ignorance and egoism. With knowledge we can at least, overcome ignorance.. Let us remember the beautiful exhortation of the Persian poet. Saadi: "Like a taper one should burn in the pursuit of knowledge. This is thy duty, even if thou has to travel oxer the whole earth." .

A quotation from A.E. Housman in which he, praises the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is worth pondering over:-

" Other desires perish in their gratification, but the desire of knowledge-never; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear-filled with hearing. Other desires become the occasion of pain through dearth of the material to gratify them, but not the desire of knowledge; the sum of things to be known is inexhaustible,, and; however long we read we shall never come to the end of our story book. So long as the mind of man is what it is. it will continue to exult in advancing on the unknown throughout 4he; infinite field;of the universe; and the tree of knowledge will remain forever as it was in the beginning, a tree to be desired to make one wise.
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FIRST DESERVE, THEN DESIRE

CSS English Essay
Outline:

  • Man's countless desires 
  • The sure way to acquire the desire
  • Reciprocal process
  • The need for self criticism

Laziness, lack of judgement, incorrect understanding of values lead to disappointment.

Our desires have no end and they are also innumerable in kind. Our mind flitters from one wish to another as a careless bee from one blossom to another, without realizing the futility and the foolishness of riding on the wings of fancy. People expect good luck ’to accost them at every turn of life. And when fortune obstinately refuses to meet them, they feel bitterly disappointed and angry with fate for being so unjust. 

Monev. love, power, popularity beauty and peace are the objects most universally desired by man. But none of these covetable blessings has ever come to a man until he deserved' it through endless' effort- Men who have been fortune's favourites are so few that they can be counted as exception to the rule. When a man comes to-possess one of the crowns of life, others' instead of envying him ought to enquire what a heavy cross he had to bear for it.

A man becomes rich if he undertakes back-breaking labour and sweats for earning an extra penny. To receive love, one must learn to love by cultivating the noblest virtues of sacrifice, self-denial and endurance. Power will reside only in a man who has both integrity of character and merit that is productive. Popularity can be maintained at a high price. And- that price consists of character, kindness and unselfish service to others. Beauty is more an outcome of care and culture than a sheer gift of Nature. One enjoys spiritual serenity when suffering have purified one's soul. Happiness of our life is not a lost button that we can look for it under the table and behind the' door. One has to strive steadily towards realizing whatever he ardently wishes for. 

A sensible person must make a self-analysis and assess how much he deserves the thing he desires. The man who knows what his particular duty is and performs his own part with due care and respect, is never denied the sweet fruits of his toil. When one of two students comes out with flying colours and the other fares poorly, we should not blame luck for being treacherous. For thorough and regular work is sure to achieve its reward.

Besides laziness there are other defects in a man's character and temperament which may offset his success in life. Lack of calm judgment, the patience to follow a tedious plan to its end. and the incorrect understanding of values also cause disappointment to a man otherwise vigilant and hard-working. So instead of attributing failures to reasons outside, one must seek to discover them in one's own self in one's errors and weaknesses.

‘’Knock the door and it will be opened to you", said Jesus Christ to his disciples. And this gospel holds the truth of all times, that when we have put forth our best effort and proved ourselves deserving, no-gift will be withheld from our extended hands.

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VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

CSS English Essay


Outline:

  • Spices, imparting taste to food
  • Freedom from dullness
  • Variety's definition
  • Abuses of a monotonous life
It is not enough that our food should be wholesome: it must be tasteful too. But what is that, above all, which imparts taste to food? The answer is 'spices'. In fact, without spices our food will become insipid, lacking in the essential quality of being palatable.

As with food, so with life. Nobody wants to live a dull and monotonous life. What is that, makes life free from dullness and monotony? What is it that leads to joy and flavor to it? The answer is variety. What spices do to food, variety does live.

Variety means diversity or, in other words, the absence of rigid uniformity. In every sphere of life, major or minor, food, association and even place of residence, from time to time. Even io hear the same song, however enchanting, or to read the same book, however enthralling, would cause boredom before long. Hence out of an instinctive urge from within, man does, not like to be surrounded by the same things for a long time much less a lifetime. His soul needs contact with ever-changing joys and experiences. Else it dies. Life becomes burdensome and uninspiring and death seems preferable to that state.

Man lives more by the mind than by the body. When having fallen into a rut. the mind becomes sick and weary, his health begins to give way. The advice for a change of climate given by wise doctors springs from the ultimate motive of affording the sick new experiences, new sights, and sounds, and new sources of delight because the old have lost their appeal to his mind. Thus variety is also a great healer likewise, .in every other sphere of life, variety .denied is the soul killed whereupon the body exists only to smart till death steps in to relieve it of the intolerable burden of life.

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A CLEAR CONSCIENCE IS A SOFT PILLOW

CSS English Essay

Outline:

  • Sleep, best blessing of God
  • A clean conscience the surest way to enjoy sound sleep
  • A man not having the deceiving plans, haired against others will enjoy sound sleep.

Soft pillow is symbol of peaceful sleep. We all know that sleep is the best blessing conferred on us by God. Its denial robs us of all the joys and comforts of life. Nothing, not even the total wealth of the world, can be an adequate compensation for sleeplessness. But how it can be ensured at all time?

We all know that freedom from cares and worries is very-conducive to peaceful sleep. He who is haunted by evil thoughts and anxieties over misdeeds, done or to be done, will never enjoy sound sleep. And the surest means of' keeping the mind free from such emotional disturbances is to possess a clean conscience.

A man who does not think ill of others or do wrong to others has a good conscience. He has no enemies to guard against. All love him and none hates him. He has hot brood over plans-of deceiving others or concealing his guilts committed in other spheres. He is. in short, free from fear of private enmity, legal action or social disgrace. He is happy though poor. He is respected though he may be illiterate. All these give him such a calm and serenity of mind that he is never in want of that peaceful condition of mind which is a condition precedent to sound sleep. He needs no cosy bed or feather-made pillow. Even lying his head on a stone or having the bare earth as his bed. he can sleep comfortably than the king can enjoy on his feathered bed. His clean conscience is his soft pillow and he heeds none from outside.
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WHEN AT ROME DO AS ROMANS DO

CSS English Essay

Outline:

  • The necessity of travelling abroad
  • Man's capacity to adopt himself to changing circumstances
  • A civilized man's attitude
  • The rigidity of one's mind

We cannot expect to live in our homes, surrounded by familiar faces, all through our days. By compulsion of necessity and circumstances we' have to travel abroad, associate with strangers and accommodate ourselves to customs and conventions which may not agree with our taste. The more resilient a man's temperament, the greater will be his capacity to adapt himself, to alter situations. The soundness of education and intelligence is proved by a man's quick grasp of the demands of a particular time and place.

The ability to adjust oneself to the speedy development of life is an essential requirement for one's simple survival against the adverse factors. The gigantic mammoths of the prehistoric ages died out of existence while their puny, feeble, fellow creature man weathered successfully the vagaries of nature because man by his superior mind learnt soon to swim with the current.

The spirit of friendliness towards all ensures a life of peace and harmony. A sensible man realises,this and can make himself at home even in an alien atmosphere. A truly educated man does not labour under mean prejudices. Hence he will not find any difficulty in appreciating the manners and ways of life in other countries. He is tolerant of other habits’ even if he cannot emulate them. A polite man is too sensitive to wound the feelings of anyone.

Some people most unfortunately never learn the value of this precept, of becoming a Roman in Rome; The rigidity of their nature induce them to assume a wary attitude towards whatever seems foreign to them. They are afraid of yielding an inch without stubborn resistance. These people waste their energy in futile conflicts with their fellow beings, and spoil everybody's happiness including their own. Some of them even go to the extent of acting as self-appointed crusaders for upholding the superiority of their own belief and customs. They do not realize that sympathy is not a sign of weakness, and that no one can earn respect by being offensive.

At times sheer common sense will prompt us to change our mode of life when we are living under different circumstances. A great coat is a superficial luxury in this country, but in England one runs the risk of catching pneumonia if one goes out without an overcoat. In America easy friendship and sociability is expected from all. Now, the man who disapproves this volubility will find himself miserably lonely, as a veritable outcast.

A wise man will never deprive himself of the chance to enjoy the infinite variety of life for the sake of some futile taboos.
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LIGHT SORROWS SPEAK, GREAT ONES ARE DUMB

CSS English Esssay

Outline:

  • The way to unburden our heavy hearts is to talk and share the sorrow
  • Some deep pains are not expressive so causing the devastation of offerer's mind
  • The agony of grueling onslaughts cause dumbness in sufferer
  • Great pains, cause of isolation

Usually sorrows and pains find relief through expression in one form or another. When we cannot find words to let out our unhappiness, we wail and moan, and thereby unburden our heavy hearts. When we are smitten by the pangs of loss, failure, disappointment or thwarted desires and our hearts feel sore; we have to talk and share the sorrow so that it does not feel unbearable.

But yet there are pains which are too deep for words. Our senses respond promptly to our experience, but when a certain limit is reached, the senses may fail altogether. And at that stage a numbness overcomes our consciousness. In that torpor our body and mind become partly para lysed and quite incapable of displaying any normal reaction. It is not unusual that a sudden shock gives such a stunning blow to a person that he loses his mental balance for ever. At times the pain he is bearing is so devastating that the mind can scarcely perceive of it. When a man sees his whole world of hope and dreams, the very purpose of his existence crashing before him irretrievably, all that he can do is to stand and stare with a vacant look.

Words may prove poor vehicles of expression when the grief is of a towering-magnitude. Insufferable agony may froth and foam inside a closed heart and try in vain to find a channel. For want of adequate language one may fail to bemoan one’s sorrows. There are miseries and tragedies in life for which no words have as yet been coined. Such speechless sorrows also strike a person dumb.

Sorrows may be so deep rooted that no amount of words or tears can minimize its grueling, piercing onslaughts. Expression in such cases fails to bring any solace or peace. A sufferer lightens the load of his misery by sharing it with his friends and near ones. But all great sorrows penetrate the very core of one’s innermost being, and settle there instead of giving one eloquence: Thus the sufferer becomes incapable of purging out the corrosive feelings that eat away his poor heart.

A great pain’ isolates a man from hrs fellow-beings and renders him utterly lonely. The world after all is a callous place. Everyone goes about his own affairs. None has the time or inclination to minister to other’s comfort and share the grim fate of others. So a tragedy tends to make a man a spiritual recluse who will scrupulously guard his sorrow from the. gaze of the public and bear its torture alone in absolute silence.
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UNEASY LIES THE HEAD THAT WEARS A CROWN

CSS English Essay

Outline:

  • Power and responsibility cannot bring peace
  • The cause of this unhappiness
  • A dictator's troubles: doubt and his desire for controlling everything
  • The way io avoid that trouble
  • The guidance of our conscience
  • Responsibility and uneasiness go together


There are some who take this proverb too literally. They say that crowned kings lead an uneasy life because they-are surrounded by constant dangers. They speak of Ramchandra and Alexander, of Napoleon and Kaiser Wilheim. and so on. But this is a wrong interpretation of the proverb. It really means that those who have power and responsibility lead an uneasy life. All the wealth and comfort enjoyed by a man having power and responsibility cannot bring peace to him.

A crown
Golden in show, is but a wealth of thorns.
Brings dangers, troubles, cares and Sleepless nights.
And another poet said: "The royal crown cures not the king's headache.

It is not difficult to understand why it is so. Power and responsibility are disturbers of mental peace, but they do so all the more when he who has them' stands alone. - when there is none to share, his troubles. The dictator - whether he sits on the throne or lords it over in his home can never know peace.

This is mainly, because he takes too much on himself. He monopolises all power, and tries to look after everything. But a man's capacity on matter how big he is - is limited. If he takes everything upon himself, he will have to divide his mind and energies everywhere. That is enough to make anyone uneasy. Not only so, he becomes suspicious and doubtful of everyone, for he believes that he alone is capable and efficient and sincere: all others are bunglers or shirkers. - This megalomania is the penalty of dictatorship. If he is conscientious, his troubles increase. He works hard to do his duties, but he is always dissatisfied because he thinks he has not done enough. To feel that he is personally accountable that all that is done is always a most uncomfortable sensation.

Then are we to shun responsibility? Should we give up all powers and retire within our own little cell, guarded and secured by fixed routine - going round the same circle like the oilman's bullock? But we must try to take things easily - even our responsibilities. That it can be done is the experience of many. In the first place we must learn to share power and responsibilities. What is difficult to bear all the oneself becomes comparatively easy when 'there are others to share the burden with help and advice. The dictatorial attitude is always fatal to mental peace.

Secondly, it is good to work under a taskmaster to whom one feels accountable. Even when one has no human task matter, one falls back upon the idea of God : “All men." said Carlyle," If they work not as in the great taskmaster’s eye, will work w-rong, and work .unhappily for themselves and for you." But far better it is to work under the eye of one's own conscience.

Nor know we anything so fair
As is the smile upon thy face

Conscience tells u; what to do and what not to do. and-he who follows the dictates of conscience has no burden on his mind. Thirdly, some amount cf humility helps to relieve the mental uneasiness of one 'who wears a crown', who exercises power and responsibility. A man who thinks less of what other owes to him than of that he owes to other is spread much uneasiness of mind.

Yet, w'hen all is said and done, it remains true that the man in power must have some anxious moments that he cannot avoid. He cannot afford to take life lightly. The selfish man should perhaps be the least unhappy. But that is not true because everyone avoids him; he has none to come forward to share his troubles. If power involves isolation, uneasiness becomes unavoidable.

So Shakespeare's words, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown/ are true in more than the literal sense. It is certainly not necessary to avoid power and responsibility, but we should accept him as a kind of sacred trust and fulfil the obligation they lay on us in a spirit of humility and selflessness.

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WE LIVE IN DEEDS NOT YEARS

(CSS English Essay1993)

Outline:

  • The most fundamental thing in life blind clinging to life
  • Blessing for a long life, most valued possession of main
  • our feeling about a man who dies early.
  • The true standard for judging a life not years but deeds
  • The example of Christ, Buddha, Alexander and Napoleon
  • A single heroic age worth many lives
  • Quality of work not the length of years
  • An oak tree


Who does not want to live long? The dying patient suffering from terrible agony hopes that he will come'round and have many more days to live. The old "man with one foot in the grave'expects many more returns of his birthday. The man who has failed in one venture after another and faces starvation likes to live longer and make other ventures that will make up for his failures. Philosophers point out that the most fundamental thing in life is the blind clinging to existence. We all want to live. We do not know why.

When we bless a man, we pray for wealth, and learning, power and happiness, but above all we pray that he would be long-lived. There are various forms of this blessing; his days should be as countless as the hairs on his head, as the sands on the sea-shore; the simplest is that he should live for a hundred years, though we all of ' us know that not one in a hundred will come near this age. Long life ' seems to be the most valued possession of man. What, according to the popular conception, is the difference between a God and a man? A man is mortal and lives for a short time whereas a God, being immortal, lives for ever.

When a man dies early, we are all very sorry. We think that he will not live to enjoy more happiness, as if mere living is happiness. If a man lives up to a ripe old age, we feel that he has got what life has had to offer him. He may have had sorrows and failures; still we feel that he has lived in the true sense of the term, that is to say, he has lived- a long life. The mere joy of living is regarded as a sign of happiness and success.

But this standard, although commonly accepted, is hot the only standard forjudging the value of a life, and it is not the correct standard. Nobody remembers the long-lived man, the man who has only enjoyed or suffered for a large number of years. If we recall the great men of the past, Jesus Christ or Buddha, Alexander dr Napoleon, Shakespeare or Goethe, we do not care to know how many years they lived, we judge them by the quality of their work, the influence they exercised on others. For example, Christ died early and Buddha lived up to a long age. But when we judge them, we judge them as founders of religions, by their deeds and not by their longevity. The same thing is true of Alexander and Napoleon, two of the greatest w'arriors and of Shakespeare and Goethe, two of the greatest writers.

Jesus Christ, Alexander, the Great English poet Keats - all these men died very prematurely. It should have been a good thing if they had lived longer. But the few years they lived were crowded with good things. Jesus preached a religion that is a part of Western Civilization, and Alexander won battle after battle and conquered country after country. Their short lives were crowded with glories and were thus much more valuable than millions of men who have lived long but who have not achieved any glory. Jesus and Alexander will be remembered as long as the world lasts but who cares for the nameless people who lived and lived and then died? Keats died very prematurely in his life - time he did not meet with much appreciation, but he wrote poetry that is now regarded as very great. Shall we judge him by his short life or by his lasting glory?

Sometimes even a. single heroic deed is worth than an age without a name. A man - not distinguished in any way is passing along and he finds another men trapped in a fire or drowning in a river. The man who risks' his life and even lays it down to save another has done something heroic, and this one act makes him great. He is to be judged by his deed, this one deed, and he had not taken this risk and passed away indifference, he would have lived longer but that life would have been inferior in quality. 

The examples cited above, are of men who have become famous. They have not lived long in body, but their name and fame have survived. Men in ordinary walks of life cannot hope to do anything great, anything that will be remembered by ages to come. But even here in our day-to-day activities, it is the quality of work that counts. Whom do we praise-or love? The teacher who toils for his pupils; the trader who is honest, the friend who stands by his friend. Here .it is little, deeds of kindness, courage and love that determine the value of a man's life. not the length of his years.

An English poet says that the big oak tree grows in bulk, lives for three hundred years and is then' used as fire wood. The lily lives for a day; but it scatters sweet fragrance all the time it is alive. The lily is far sweeter than the log of wood. So also a man who performs good deeds lives a better life than one who has lasted an age without doing anything that is valuable.

A man's life is measured not by the years lived but by the volume of works he has done. It is not given to man to fix the span of his life but it is up to him to turn every moment to account. All will die, whether after a century or just tomorrow. What, therefore, matters is not the fact of longevity but of making memorable every moment over which a life extends. That is what made Napoleon, who died before fifty, famous and immortal. Christ passed away when he was hardly thirty. And yet they have left their impress on human history .which few octogenarians can claim by the half. A death is inevitable,-, the goal of life should be not to make it long without purpose but to make it purposeful even though short.
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Man Is Known By the Company He Keeps

CSS English Essay

Outline:
  • To judge one's character is to know his company
  • The things having common qualities attract each other
  • The cause of happiness
  • Care regarding the choice of a company
  • The dangers being in a bad company.
The best way of knowing a man is to know what company he keeps. A. thief associates with a thief, and a saint, with a saint. Righteousness can have no fellowship with unrighteousness. Light can have no connection with darkness and a believer with a infidel. Fire and water have a natural affinity to their own kind, and a natural aversion for each other. Water is attracted by . water and two drops meeting Together will readily become one; but when fire and water meet together they destroy each others. Tigers and deer, serpents and doves, lambs and wolves, lions and whales, never voluntary associate with each other. Light and darkness can never unite. So men of similar tastes and habits unite with each other and become friends. Therefore a man's character, opinions, tastes and' temper may be fairly gauged by the company, he lives in.

Birds of the same feathers flock together. If a police man is to. detect a thief or a felon, where will he search for him? He will no doubt search him among the haunts of wickedness. Since the police knows that a thief can be nowhere but among thieves. A man is never so happy as when he finds himself in the company of those who are as he is. If a man found in the company of thieves says he is not so, who will believe his protestations, however fair he may be. His company will prove more than his professions. What did the husbandman in the Fable say to the stork, when he protested he was no crane? The husbandman said, "All that you say be true. I dare say.

but this I know, that I have caught you with those who were destroying many crops, and you must suffer with the company in which you are taken." Such is the case with everyone. A man is always judged by the company he keeps.

One should exercise great care in the choice of one's companions. Our happiness or misery depends upon this choice. If a good man mixes with those who are bad and wicked, he is sure to lose his character whereas if a bad man comes into contact with the good and the virtuous, he will soon be one of them. It should, therefore, be the earnest endeavour of everyone to secure a good company .since it is only there that character can be preserved and improved. It is the company on which the structure of a man’s career is built. Then how important is the choice of associates. Even Jesus Christ was pronounced bad because his associates were bad men; since he Showed himself, “the friend of publicans and sinners." If we wish to make our lives happy and peaceful, we should have none for our companions but those who are good, wise and pious. To be among the good is to be good and among the bad is to be bad. Now let us determine what we shall be.
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