Work--a Principle and a Privilege

We repeat, that work is a principle and a privilege, and not merely a penalty. The philosophy of being free from work is a false philosophy and the fashion of being free from work is a false fashion.

And now further on this thought, to young people preparing for the future. To them, earnestly and urgently, we would say: Consider carefully the kind of work you want to do, the kind of work you are best adapted to do, and don’t make avoiding work your ideal or objective.

If you do, you won’t develop your talents or your full powers of performance. If you do, you may work harder at wasting time than you would at working. If you do, you’ll deteriorate faster than you would with working. If you do, you will have a feeling of frustration and futility and a discontent inside yourselves⎯for any day that closes without a sincere sense of accomplishment is an empty and unsatisfying day.

Furthermore, there is no real prestige without work. (Anyone who supposes that he can have influence without responsibility, or prestige without paying a price, or a real sense of satisfaction without willing work, is only seeking to deceive himself).

And now we would add the word of other witnesses. First from Emerson: “In every variety of human employment…there are [those] who do their task perfunctorily, as we say, or just to pass, and as badly as they dare…[and there are] those who love work, and love to see it rightly done, who finish their task…and the state and world is happy, that has the most of such finishers. …Men talk as if victory were something fortunate. Work is victory.”

And from Carlyle we quote: “Idleness alone is without hope: work earnestly at anything, you will be degrees learn to work at almost all things.” “For there is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredness, in Work. …There is always hope in a man that actually and earnestly works: …” “For that is the thing a man is born to…to expend every particle of strength that God Almighty has given him, in doing the work he finds he is fit for; to stand up to it to the last breath of life, and do his best. We are called upon to do that; … I would bid you stand up to your work, whatever it may be, and not be afraid of it.”