“I.  It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one-tenth of their time to be employed in its service, but idleness taxes many of us much more:  sloth, by bringing on disease, absolutely shortens life.  ’Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright,’ as Poor Richard says.  ’But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of,’ as Poor Richard says.  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,’ as Poor Richard says.  ‘If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be,’ as Poor Richard says, ‘the greatest prodigality;’ since as he elsewhere tell us, ’Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough always proves little enough.’  Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose, so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity.  ’Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy, and he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him.  Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise,’ as Poor Richard says.

“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; then help hands, for I have no lands,’ or if I have they are smartly taxed.  ’He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor,’ as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes.  If we are industrious we shall never starve; for ’at the workingman’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.’  Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for ’industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.’  What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left a legacy; ’Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry.  Then plow deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.’  Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow.  ’One to-day is worth two to-morrows,’ as Poor Richard says; and farther, ’Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day.’  If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle?  Are you then your own master?  Be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your king.  Handle your tools without mittens; remember, that ’the cat in gloves catches no mice,’ as Poor Richard says.  It is true there is much to be done, and, perhaps, you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for, ’Constant dropping wears away stones; and by diligence, and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks.’