No man is born into the world whose work
Is not born with him.
A Glance Behind the Curtain. J.R. LOWELL.
If little labor, little are our gaines:
Man's fortunes are according to his paines.
Hesperides: No Paines, No Gaines. R. HERRICK.
Who first invented work, and bound the free
And holiday-rejoicing spirit down
* * * * *
To that dry drudgery at the desk's dead wood?
* * * * *
Sabbathless Satan!
Work. C. LAMB.
It was not by vile loitering in ease
That Greece obtained the brighter palm of art,
That soft yet ardent Athens learnt to please,
To keen the wit, and to sublime the heart,
In all supreme! complete in every part!
It was not thence majestic Rome arose,
And o'er the nations shook her conquering dart:
For sluggard's brow the laurel never grows;
Renown is not the child of indolent repose.
* * * * *
Toil, and be glad! let Industry inspire
Into your quickened limbs her buoyant breath!
Who does not act is dead; absorpt entire
In miry sloth, no pride, no joy he hath:
O leaden-hearted men to be in love with death!
The Castle of Indolence, Canto II. J. THOMSON.
My nature is subdued
To what it works in, like the dyer's hand.
Sonnet CXI. SHAKESPEARE.
Mechanic slaves
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers.
Antony and Cleopatra, Act v. Sc. 2. SHAKESPEARE.