a primer of ethics

Book cover
Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: INDUSTRY. Industry is constant diligence in any proper employment; and we are happier when employed than when idle. Industry, to be most successful, must be steady, persevering and wisely directed. I. Industry ought to be steady. When a young boy and a man of maturity and experience go out together to work, we shall see a very marked difference in their manner. They go into the forest, on a winter morning, with a sled drawn by oxen, to get in wood. The boy is running hither and thither, and jumping about the sled; and when he comes to the woods he begins cutting, with great zeal and earnestness, to see if he cannot get a log cut off sooner than the man. The man moves deliberately. He takes no unnecessary steps ; he makes no violent exertion. The boy is exhausted in an hour, and after that can do very little more; while the man is able to continue his labor steadily till the sun goes down in the evening. Industry to be steady must not be violent; and the most effectual way to accomplish any purpose is, generally, to exert ourselves with moderation, and then we can continue to work longer. Boys and girls are very often unsteady in what they do. It is not because they mean to do wrong; it results from the nature of youth, which is, to be ardent, buteasily fatigued. So when sent upon an errand, they will set off upon the run, and then, when half-way to their place of destination, they sit down to rest. When work is given them, they begin with the greatest energy; but in a few minutes their breath is spent, their strength is gone. Now, industry must be steady. The work should be begun with moderation, so that the strength may endure. Emergencies of haste or danger require extraordinary exertions, no doubt; but for ordinary duties, it is best always to begin in such a way...
add to favoritesadd

Users who have this book

Users who want this book

What readers are saying

What do you think? Write your own comment on this book!

write a comment

What do you think? Write your own comment on this book

Info about the book

Author:

Series:

Unknown

ISBN:

0715612581

Rating:

3.5/5 (5)

Your rating:

0/5

Languge:

English

Do you want to read a book that interests you? It’s EASY!

Create an account and send a request for reading to other users on the Webpage of the book!