How Happy Are They

How happy are they born or taught,

who do not serve another’s will;

whose armor is their honest thought,

and simple truth their highest skill;

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Whose passions not their rulers are;

whose souls are still, and free from fear,

not tied unto the world with care

of public fame or private ear;

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Who have their lives from rumors freed,

whose conscience is their strong retreat,

whose state no flattery can feed,

nor ruin make oppressors great.

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All such are freed from servile bands

of hope to rise, or fear to fall;

they rule themselves, but rule not lands,

and, having nothing, yet have all.