“To know how to separate things is to know how to enjoy them. Many finish their fortune sooner than their life: they run through pleasures without enjoying them, and would like to go back when they find they have over-leaped the mark. Postilions of life, they increase the ordinary pace of life by the hurry of their own calling. They devour more in one day than they can digest in a whole life-time; they live in advance of pleasures, eat up the years beforehand, and by their hurry get through everything too soon. Even in the search for knowledge there should be moderation, lest we learn things better left unknown. We have more days to live through than pleasures. Be slow in enjoyment, quick at work, for men see work ended with pleasure, pleasure ended with regret.”
s
Greed can spoil anything, even the search for knowledge. The sages tell us to ‘get wisdom’ and to accumulate knowledge, but there is a place we can take this too far, in greedily gathering more information, data etc. When it takes us to be driven toward it we can easily dig up stuff better left alone.
Greed can spoil anything, even the search for knowledge. The sages tell us to ‘get wisdom’ and to accumulate knowledge, but there is a place we can take this too far, in greedily gathering more information, data etc. When it takes us to be driven toward it we can easily dig up stuff better left alone.
s
Certainly the sentiment in this aphorism is reflected by Qoheleth, the writer of Ecclesiastes. ‘Work ends with pleasure, and pleasure ends with regret.’ We all identify I think. What’s the best part of a holiday -- the anticipation on our last day of work beforehand, or the last day of the holiday? Looking forward, we’re not apt to appreciate what lays ahead of a holiday finished. It is better to work and be slow to enjoy post-work merriment.
Certainly the sentiment in this aphorism is reflected by Qoheleth, the writer of Ecclesiastes. ‘Work ends with pleasure, and pleasure ends with regret.’ We all identify I think. What’s the best part of a holiday -- the anticipation on our last day of work beforehand, or the last day of the holiday? Looking forward, we’re not apt to appreciate what lays ahead of a holiday finished. It is better to work and be slow to enjoy post-work merriment.
s
Life, though fleeting, is a race of endurance for most and it’s only not for those unfortunate souls who die prematurely; even still there’s much endurance required in dying of cancer!
Life, though fleeting, is a race of endurance for most and it’s only not for those unfortunate souls who die prematurely; even still there’s much endurance required in dying of cancer!
s
Being able to compartmentalise life is a special skill designed almost perfectly for 21st Century living. This is the ability to break life down to compartments or components and be uniquely successful in each one of those. It’s achieving successful outcomes and relationships in the home, at work, and in the community simultaneously because commensurate attention is given to each according to its needs.
Being able to compartmentalise life is a special skill designed almost perfectly for 21st Century living. This is the ability to break life down to compartments or components and be uniquely successful in each one of those. It’s achieving successful outcomes and relationships in the home, at work, and in the community simultaneously because commensurate attention is given to each according to its needs.
s
And how often do people squander a fortune only to realise how much longer the money needed to last? To be wealthy requires a mentality to support it. Throw money at a fool and they will not know how to handle it; it blows away on the breeze. They learn finally when it’s altogether too late.
And how often do people squander a fortune only to realise how much longer the money needed to last? To be wealthy requires a mentality to support it. Throw money at a fool and they will not know how to handle it; it blows away on the breeze. They learn finally when it’s altogether too late.
s
What this aphorism teaches us is caution and care relating to the pace of life. It takes much prudence and self-control to last the distance and to save, building up and not squandering, investing, sowing, and musing, rather than spending, reaping, and acting all the time.
What this aphorism teaches us is caution and care relating to the pace of life. It takes much prudence and self-control to last the distance and to save, building up and not squandering, investing, sowing, and musing, rather than spending, reaping, and acting all the time.
s
Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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