The Daylight Hours

In his dissertation on Economics, the much-quoted Aristotle said: “Getting up before daybreak makes for health and wisdom.” (Perhaps some who have quoted Aristotle at length, will, having heard this, quote him at less length!)

But there are many whose professions, or temperament, of at least whose habits lead them to think they work better if they leave their work until later. And there are also those (fewer it seems that there once were), who have a kind of drive that pays little attention to time, in contrast to those who too closely watch the clock and too quickly drop their tools. But all exceptions and habits aside, it is still true that as a matter of mere mechanics; the day light hours are more efficient. Natural light is a factor of efficiently—the light that doesn’t distort, the light that gives growth, the light that adds to, rather than takes out, energy.

But besides mere mechanical efficiency, there is the matter of safety, the safety that comes from seeing, the safety that comes with alert senses. And in darkness also there is discouragement; in darkness there is a sense of being behind.

Benjamin Franklin briefed the subject when he said: “He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night.”

But a more frustrated cry came from Hannah Cowley some two centuries ago when she said: “I have been five minutes too late all my lifetime.”

Well, these observations are not likely much to modify the man who has acquired the habit of leaving the work of the day to the darkness of night. But it is discouraging always to have to run all day because of beginning a little too late. It is discouraging always to have a sense of being behind – and so we cite these sentences: “Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault…; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed dearly, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.” Blessed are they who work well in the light of day, and who sleep well in the darkness of night.