Bradley evolves his philosophy of life–New Years Eve 1941

Material success as it is measured by the world’s standards,

does not interest me. I desire only enough to fill my needs, which

are surprisingly few. I am not ambitious: I have no desire for recognition

either in business or any other earthly endeavor; immortality

does not interest; I do not wish to be remembered by posterity either

as a famous or a infamous personality. I want only to live my years

in the manner that is or at least seems most pleasureable to me. I

have an intense love of all thing s beautiful – this appreciation of

the good things of life will sustain my spirit in the face of any

adversity. My one absorbing interest is literature, I enjoy it more

than any other single thing; next to literature I enjoy: music, art,

and nature, in that order. These simple things will form my life,

and whatever I do outside – will be purely secondary and incidental.

I have a curious belief that happiness is the chief aim in life –

as I see it, the only way to attain that end is to follow the endeavors

which give me the most pleasure and contentment. My ideas do not coincide

with those of the majority, but then, I never did have too

much respect for the whims of the majority.

I am a bit selfish – not caring to use the fire of my genius

to remedy the ills of the world, but I don’t believe the world would

take kindly to my ideas of salvation – they are much too simple for

the Mr. Bigs to even consider. I’m afraid that my naive efforts

toward a better relationship between peoples and countries would not

meet with much success. People have a tendency to distrust and

ridicule the unimposing qualities of kindness and gentleness. I

would much rather make my life a full one than try to convince a

bunch of muddle-headed imbeciles that my way of life is essentially

excellent….

My life to date has been an uncommonly happy one and I see no

reason why it should not continue to be so. Morale in the Beahan

Camp remains consistently high which is not a small thing in these

troubled times.

Wars have the reputations for changing things, but out of each

has emerged a better life for everyone. If for no other reason, war

teaches each generation its particular horrors and futility and that

is, in a sense, education, and while it seems a bit backward, it is

nevertheless, effective to a degree.

So much for the deeper thoughts of the moment…