For those who are interested: T.S. Eliot's Introduction to Djuna Barnes'
"Nightwood" is at
   http://www.studiocleo.com/librarie/barnes/introbytsrgt.html

Thats where he wrote: In the Puritan morality that I remember, it was
tacitly assumed that if one was thrifty, enterprising, intelligent,
practical and prudent in not violating social conventions, one ought to have
a happy and "successful" life. Failure was due to some weakness or
perversity peculiar to the individual; but the decent man need have no
nightmares.