ThereAreManyGradesofIdleness
亨利·沃德·比彻 / HenryWardBeecher
ThebreadwhichwesolicitofGod, , andindustryreapsit.
Asindustryishabitualactivityinsomeusefulpursuit, so, notonlyinactivity, butalsoalleffortswithoutthedesignofusefulness, .
Menmaywalkmuch, andreadmuch, andtalkmuch, andpassthedaywithoutanunoccupiedmoment, andyetbesubstantiallyidle; becauseindustryrequires, , gazing, lounging, merepleasure-mongering, readingforthereliefofennui—theseareasuselessassleeping, ordozing, orthestupidityofasurfeit.
Therearemanygradesofidleness; , andleavethereadertojudge, ifhebeanindolentman, towhichclasshebelongs.
Longagothebirdshavefinishedtheirmatins, thesunhasadvancedfullhigh, thedewhasgonefromthegrass, andlaborsofindustryarefarinprogress, whenoursluggard, awakenedbyhisveryeffortstomaintainsleep, slowlymergestoperformlife’sgreatdutyoffeeding—withhim, secondonlyinimportancetosleep.
Itisyetearlyspring; thereisiceinthenorth; andthewindsarehearty: histenderskinshrinksfromexposure, , hewakestostupidity, withindolenteyessleepilyrollingoverneglectedwork; neglectedbecauseitistoocoldinspring, andtoohotinsummer, andtoolaboriousatalltimes,—agreatcowardindanger, , hisfencesaredilapidated, ashatteredhouse—thisistheverycastleofindolence.
Anotheridlerasuseless, butvastlymoreactivethanthelast, attendscloselytoeveryone’sbusiness, ’sbread, , hepoursoutastrainofinformation, apatteringofwords, , howtosave, howtomakemoney, howtodoeverything; butalas! Butwhatusefulthingdothesebusybuzzingidlersperform?