You're blessed if you have the strength to work.

You're blessed if you have the strength to work.

Who first invented work, and bound the free
And holyday-rejoicing spirit down . . .
To that read more

Who first invented work, and bound the free
And holyday-rejoicing spirit down . . .
To that dry drudgery at the desk's dead wood? . . .
Sabbathless Satan!

Tho' we earn our bread, Tom,
By the dirty pen,
What we can we will be,
read more

Tho' we earn our bread, Tom,
By the dirty pen,
What we can we will be,
Honest Englishmen.
Do the work that's nearest
Though it's dull at whiles,
Helping, when we meet them,
Lame dogs over stiles.

Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare
it so when, according to time and circumstances, one read more

Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare
it so when, according to time and circumstances, one has done
one's best.
[Ger., So eine Arbeit wird eigentlich nie fertig; man muss sie
fur fertig erklaren, wenn man nach Zeit und Umstand das
Moglichste getan hat.]

How many a rustic Milton has passed by,
Stifling the speechless longings of his heart,
In unremitting read more

How many a rustic Milton has passed by,
Stifling the speechless longings of his heart,
In unremitting drudgery and care!
How many a vulgar Cato has compelled
His energies, no longer tameless then,
To mould a pin, or fabricate a nail!

Everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited.

Everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited.

Ease and speed in doing a thing do not give the work lasting
solidity or exactness of beauty.

Ease and speed in doing a thing do not give the work lasting
solidity or exactness of beauty.

Light burthens, long borne, growe heavie.
[Light burdens, long borne, grow heavy.]

Light burthens, long borne, growe heavie.
[Light burdens, long borne, grow heavy.]

Work divided is in that manner shortened.
[Lat., Divisum sic breve fiet opus.]

Work divided is in that manner shortened.
[Lat., Divisum sic breve fiet opus.]