Section 134. THE GOSPEL OF WORK. I.
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Work, hard[1] work, is a blessing to[2] the soul and the character[3] of the man who works. Young men[4] may not think so. They[5] may say: “What[6] more pleasant than to have[7] one’s fortune made for one, and[8] have nothing more before one than to enjoy life? What[6] more pleasant than to be idle; or, at least, to do only what one likes, and no more than one likes?” But they would find themselves mistaken. They would find that idleness makes a man[9] restless, discontented, greedy, the[10] slave of his own lusts and passions, and see, too late, that no man[9] is more to be pitied than the man[11] who has nothing to do. Yes, thank[12] God, every morning, when you get up, that you have something to do that day which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being[13] forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in[14] you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a (S. 132, N. 10) hundred virtues which the idle[15] man will never know.