Two men have arrived at a railway station some time before the train. One will do nothing, or only fret and fume; the other will employ the interval in studying human nature, enter into a profitable conversation, or try to learn something from the contents of the book-stall.
In the same number of years the second class of man will live twice as long as the first, because he will do twice as much with his time. How much more energy would we have for good work if we wasted less of it in foolish anger, useless repining, envy, hatred, and all uncharitableness!
Then, many of us would work with far more spirit if greater variety could be introduced into our work. Change of work is as good as rest.
Pity that the manual and intellectual work of the world should be confined to separate classes of people instead of being divided among all! Why should some have their bodies worn out by overwork, and others their minds, when if the work were divided there would be just enough for the healthy and pleasurable exercise of all the faculties of both parties?
Every boy, however high his social position may be, should be taught a handicraft.
It is all very well for him to "manipulate his feet" well, as an Irish reporter wrote, at football, but would it not be better for him to learn to do useful work with his hands?
Five or six hours' reading or other intellectual work is as much as most men can do with profit in one day, and this leaves them plenty of time for using their hands.
Many are discontented with the name of idler who are nevertheless content to do worse than nothing. Of course, when it is said that every man should work, we mean that he should do good and useful work.——Selected.