Preface

There's a brief preface to the work that indicates BR's intent - that "This book is not addressed to the learned ... no profound philosophy or deep erudition will be found [but merely] some remarks which are inspired by what I hope is common sense ... confirmed by my own experience and observation."

It is for "those multitudes of men and women who suffer unhappiness" and his belief is that many people who are unhappy could become happier by a process of introspection, guided by what he has written in this book.

(EN: This was a fairly common disclaimer of the time in which this book was written. In the present day, it is far more common for authors, or more likely their publishers, to make grand and sweeping claims to market a book as a thorough examination and an absolutely foolproof solution. Such hubris was unfashionable in previous ages, and admission that "these are some thoughts I have had" was taken as a sign of humility rather than weakness.)