From the ‘Consolations of Philosophy’

Every mortal is troubled with many and various anxieties, and yet all desire, through various paths, to arrive at one goal; that is, they strive by different means to attain one happiness:  in a word, God.  He is the beginning and the end of every good, and he is the highest happiness.  Then said the Mind:—­This, methinks, must be the highest good, so that men should neither need, nor moreover be solicitous, about any other good besides it; since he possesses that which is the roof of all other good, inasmuch as it includes all other good, and has all other kinds within it.  It would not be the highest good if any good were external to it, because it would then have to desire some good which itself had not.  Then answered Reason, and said:—­It is very evident that this is the highest happiness, for it is both the roof and the floor of all good.  What is that then but the best happiness, which gathers the other felicities all within it, and includes and holds them within it; and to it there is a deficiency of none, neither has it need of any, but they come all from it and again all to it, as all waters come from the sea and again all come to the sea?  There is none in the little fountain, which does not seek the sea, and again from the sea it returns into the earth, and so it flows gradually through the earth, till it again comes to the same fountain that it before flowed from, and so again to the sea.

Now, this is an example of the true good, which all mortal men desire to obtain, though they by various ways think to arrive at it.  For every man has a natural good in himself, because every mind desires to obtain the true good; but it is hindered by the transitory good, because it is more prone thereto.  For some men think that it is the best happiness that a man be so rich that he have need of nothing more, and they choose their life accordingly.  Some men think that this is the highest good, that he be among his fellows the most honorable of his fellows; and they with all diligence seek this.  Some think that the supreme good is in the highest power.  These strive either themselves to rule, or else to associate themselves to the friendship of rulers.  Some persuade themselves that it is best that a man be illustrious and celebrated and have good fame; they therefore seek this both in peace and in war.  Many reckon it for the greatest good and for the greatest happiness that a man be always blithe in this present life, and follow all his lusts.  Some indeed who desire these riches are desirous thereof because they would have the greater power, that they may the more securely enjoy these worldly lusts, and also the riches.  Many there are who desire power because they would gather money; or again, they are desirous to spread their name.