The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-03-06
Never Satisfied.


Never was there q sentiment uttered
fraught with moro truth than this, for
nothing in this world has ever yet been
able to satisfy the, Unsuitable desire Of
man. The greatest mistake man has ever
committed is TO suppose that he can find
in the present state of existence that
which can fully crafty all his wants.
The craving of the immortal soul! how
vain and futile to expect they can ever
be gratified in this imperfect state of cX-
istencc! This world is too poor-too in
adequate to crafty the longings and as
pira1ions of the restless spirit OF man,
that is ever asking for more. -,g
Behold our first parents in the beautiful
garden of Eden! Naughtis there to dis
turb their peace and harmony. Sin has
never, as yet, bcguiled their hearts-care
and trouble to them are unknown. But,
as they p;srtake of the .luxurics by which
they are surrounded, are they contented?
No-far from it; there is yet one thing
wanting to complete their happiness; it
is to partake of the forbidden fruit. Thus
it was with our first parents. If they
could not be satisfied with their lot,
which might have been one of perfect
bliss, can it be expected that we shall be
satisfied in world thatis corrupted with
sin, and where every blessing is tingcd
with SORROW? Yet satisfaction is what
we are all seeking, but never find. How
many vainly imagine that they shall be
satisfied, when they shall have reached
some particular point in their existence.
But when that is reached, satisfaction is
yet afar off, floating in the distance, seen
but dimly: and indistinctly. S3z -
How many and varied, yet, for the
most part, how poor and inadequate, arc
the objects which we single out for the
purpose of finding true and permanent
satisfaction. The votarics of dissipation
and scnsuaity seek it in the qualification
of thoiranimal appetites and passions; (;
but there they fnd'it not. The covetous
seek it III the accumulation Of wealth, but
find that their expectations are not real
lied. The ambitious,a prompted. by a
thirst for glory and fame, pursue with
untiring ardor. the aEarng pbantoms;
but when they have glaspcd all thatis in
their reach, they are yet more dissatisfied
than ever. Behold Alexander, who has
travcrsed- tho whole world with his victo-
rious army, weeping because his ambition
was. confined within the limits of~onc
world Was Napoleon satisfied, when
his power ,swayed over nearly the whole
of Europe (? No; the more he subjected
to his will, the more he saw to subject.
Look at Caesar, in the height of his tri-
umph, grasping what he had so long toll.
cd for; and, then, in the rcstlessness and
dissatisfaction of his nature, exclaiming,
"Is this all 2''
Who has ever drank so deep at the per-
ennial spring of knowledge as to satisfy
his thirst Was it Plato, Cicero, Locke,
or Ncwton? No, not they; although
they drank deep, yet their anticipations
were not realized And how often, when
tho astonishing world gazcd with sur
prise, and admiration at the great height
to which they had arisen on the hill Of
science, they were compelled to aclsnowl-
cdge-this is not my dream this is not
what / hoped to have done! -
Thus il is with all mankind. whatever
his pursuit may be. None can fully: .cx-
press the thought which it seems to have
been his mission partly to, unfold. None
ever yet succeeded in gaining all they
have desired Thus, in every period of
our existence on earth, there appears to
have been something wanting to satisfy
the cravings of our natures y and We
never have, and never can reach the point
where we can say we are satisfied.