Always being busy doing some work, not shying away from difficult work, and being diligent i.e. being thorough in following good standards are things that make up strong work ethics. Solid work ethics are the driving force and without which the person can go wayward. However, prolonged exposure to some situations like European colonies, foreign rulers, and unfair environments destroy work ethic and establishes negative connotation with being hardworking. In unfair systems, people’s work ethic gets destroyed. As a result positive attributes attached to work ethic starts to lose ground.
In daily life, many hardships and challenges are faced. But most of these problems arise out of our own delaying tactics, laziness, and ignorance. Proper utilization of time, good work habits, and hard work can work wonders in your life. Here is an excerpt from Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac that describes in a simple way the importance of being hardworking.
”A government would be considered a ‘bad’, should it tax its people one tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service. But idleness taxes us much more, if we think about all the time spent on absolute laziness, or doing nothing. All that is spent in idle employments or amusements amounts to nothing. Laziness, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life.Laziness, like rust, erodes faster than wear and tear due to hard work, while the used key is always bright. But those who love life, do not waste time, for that’s the stuff life is made of. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep! Forgetting thatthe sleeping fox catches no poultry and that fox can sleep for ample time in the grave. If time is the most precious of all things,then wasting timemust be, the greatest loss, since, as he elsewhere tells us,lost time is never found again, and what we callenough time, always proves little enough. Let us then be up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less confusion. Laziness makes all things difficult, but hardworking nature (work) all things easy; andthe person that wakes up late, must toil hard all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night. Whilelaziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him, and as we read,drive your business, let not your business drive you; andearly to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
“So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times. We may make these times better if we get going ourselves.The person who is industrious need not wish, andhe that live upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains, without pains, thenhelp hands, for I have no lands, or if I have, they are smartly taxed. And he that knows a craft has an income,andhe that has a calling has an office of profit and honor; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate, nor the office, will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are hardworking, we shall never starve; and at the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Neither the court bailiff nor the police constable will enter,for industry pays debts, while despair increases them. Don’t bother even if you have not found a treasure, nor if any rich relation left you an inheritance,but remember diligence is the mother of good luck, andGod gives all things to the hardworking person who perseveres. Thenplough deep in the farm, while lazy people sleep, and you shall have rice to sell and to keep. Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be obstructed tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrows; and farther,If you have something to do for tomorrow, do it today. If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? If you are then your own master,be ashamed to catch yourself idle. When there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country and your god and goddess, get up by the first ray of sunlight;let not the sun look down and say, this lazy person lies here. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak handed, but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects, forcontinuous drops of water wears away stones, and with diligence and patience the mouse ate into the cable;andlittle strokes fell huge trees.
“I hear some of you say, should a man afford himself no leisure? I will tell those, my friend, employ your time well if you mean to gain leisure; and,since you are not sure of a minute, do not waste away an hour.Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the hardworking man will obtain, but the lazy man never. A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Do you imagine that laziness will afford you more comfort than labor? No, as trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease. Many without labor would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock. Whereas hardworking person gets comfort, and plenty, and respect:fly our pleasures, and they’ll follow you. The diligent weaver works for long hours and has a sheep and a cow, and everybody says hello to him.
In this article, we have extensively used a section from Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac. This was so well written that we wanted to bring it to the attention of a wider audience. We have made many changes in language, as well as expressions to help it to be understood today by the audience of HIOC.
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A small effort from your end can really be helpful to somebody!