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The Way to Wealth (1758) by Benjamin Franklin
If time is of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality; since lost time is never found again, and what we call time enough always proves too little.
Let us then be up and doing and doing to a purpose, so by diligence we should do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all things easy. He that rises late must trot all day and shall scarce overtake the business at night; while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.
Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright. Do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of; how much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave.
So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains and he that has a trade has an estate, and he that has a calling has an office of profit and honour. But then the trade must be worked at and the calling well followed.
Though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, diligence is the mother of good luck, and all things are given to industry. Plow deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn to sell and keep; work while it is called today or you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow: one today is worth two tomorrows, and farther: have you something to do tomorrow, do it today.
Be ashamed to catch yourself idle. When you have so much to do, be up by the peep of day. Let not the sun looks down and says: Inglorious here he lays.” Handle your tools without mittens; remember, that the cat in gloves catches no mice. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed, but stick
If time is of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality; since lost time is never found again, and what we call time enough always proves too little.
Let us then be up and doing and doing to a purpose, so by diligence we should do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all things easy. He that rises late must trot all day and shall scarce overtake the business at night; while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.
Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright. Do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of; how much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave.
So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains and he that has a trade has an estate, and he that has a calling has an office of profit and honour. But then the trade must be worked at and the calling well followed.
Though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, diligence is the mother of good luck, and all things are given to industry. Plow deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn to sell and keep; work while it is called today or you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow: one today is worth two tomorrows, and farther: have you something to do tomorrow, do it today.
Be ashamed to catch yourself idle. When you have so much to do, be up by the peep of day. Let not the sun looks down and says: Inglorious here he lays.” Handle your tools without mittens; remember, that the cat in gloves catches no mice. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed, but stick