Ogden's Observations on Conscience and Happiness

Ben Tanosborn in his political blog "Media with Conscience"

As much as I've always enjoyed Ogden Nash, the poet, I must confess that many of his writings have impacted me as if coming from the wisdom of a philosopher rather than the wit of an accomplished light verse mechanic.

And, among his many vignettes, there is one that seems to have stayed inscribed on my head, as if sentry in eternal vigilance."There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball," says Nash, "and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all."