{"id":44457,"date":"2017-03-23T07:01:32","date_gmt":"2017-03-23T14:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=44457"},"modified":"2017-03-23T07:12:56","modified_gmt":"2017-03-23T14:12:56","slug":"hesiod-on-hustling","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/hesiod-on-hustling\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Lessons From Hesiod on Hustling"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"eric<\/p>\n

I just read Hesiod\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Work and Days<\/a>; and found lots of great practical wisdom on working hard and hustling.<\/p>\n

Funny enough, Hesiod<\/a> was a Greek philosopher from around 700BC, over 2,700 years ago. His words still ring true today, very much like what a lot of rappers would say (hustle hard).<\/p>\n

5 Takeaway Points<\/h2>\n

Long story short, here is the summary points:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. We need to work hard and hustle to make a living<\/li>\n
  2. We need to hustle upon hustle to gain prosperity<\/li>\n
  3. We cannot stop hustling even when things are going well<\/li>\n
  4. Those who idle will suffer.<\/li>\n
  5. At the end; enjoy the fruits of your\u00c2\u00a0labor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    For more details, here are some extracts, notes, and quotes from Hesiod:<\/p>\n

    On the importance of work<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hold my heart back from work<\/p>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t raise dispute and strive to get another goods.<\/p>\n

    Zeus forced us to labor; because Prometheus screwed him. Promotheus hid fire.<\/p>\n

    The deathless gods\u00e2\u20ac\u201d same as mortal; but don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t die.<\/p>\n

    Mortal men used to be golden<\/h2>\n

    Golden race of mortal men.<\/p>\n

    Live like gods without sorrow of heart; remote and free from toil and grief.<\/p>\n

    When (golden race) of mortal men died; it was like they were overcome with sleep.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    They dwelt in ease and peace in their lands ; rich in flocks and loved by the blessed gods.<\/p>\n

    Strength from hard work<\/h2>\n

    \n Great was their strength and unconquerable the arms which grew from their shoulders on their strong limbs.<\/p>\n

    Their armor was of bronze, and houses of bronze; and bronze were implements \u00e2\u20ac\u201d no black iron.<\/p>\n

    Terrible though they were; black Death seized them, and they left the bright light of the sun.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Blessed life<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \n They lived untouched by sorrow in the islands of the blessed along the shore of the deep swirling Ocean; happy heroes for whom the grain-giving earth bears honey-sweet fruit flourishing thrice a year; far from the deathless gods.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Thank the Earth<\/h2>\n

    The earth bears food for us to live:<\/p>\n

    \n Grain-giving earth; bears honey-sweet fruit flourishing 3 times a year!\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Bounteous (beneficial) earth.<\/p>\n

    Never resting from labor<\/h2>\n

    The horrible fact of men having to labor (things they aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t passionate about):<\/p>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcRace of iron\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 and men never rest from labor and sorrow by day; and perish from night.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Latin word for food<\/h2>\n

    Food is \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcvictus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in Latin; which means \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcvivre\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to live.<\/p>\n

    Food is for living. Not pleasure.<\/p>\n

    The earth provides all<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    We will always have our basic needs met:<\/p>\n

    \n The earth will provide enough food; have clothes (wooly sheep with fleeces)<\/p>\n

    The grain-giving earth bears them fruit.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Sweat of our brows<\/h2>\n

    We need to sweat, to gain Goodness:<\/p>\n

    \n Between us and Goodness; the gods have placed the sweat of our brows.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Life is rough in beginning; but when I reached the top; life is easy.<\/p>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be idle<\/h2>\n

    Both gods and men are angry with a man who lives idle.<\/p>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t waste the labor of bees; eating without working.<\/p>\n

    Work hard; to fill my barns full of victual (food); to live.<\/p>\n

    Through work, men grow rich in flocks and substance\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and working; I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m more loved by the immortals.<\/p>\n

    \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcWork is no disgrace; it is idleness which is a disgrace.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Hard work; more prosperity<\/h2>\n

    If you work; the idle will soon envy you as you grow rich\u00e2\u20ac\u201d for fame and renown attend on wealth.<\/p>\n

    Even if I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t born with much; hard work can give us anything:<\/p>\n

    \n Whatever the lot of fate has given you; work is the best.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Ignore others<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Ignore the property of other men; attend to my own work and livelihood.<\/p>\n

    If I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m confident; work hard\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I will be wealthy.<\/p>\n

    Call your friend to a feast; but leave your enemy alone.<\/p>\n

    Good friends<\/h2>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcHe who enjoys a good neighbor has a precious possession\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Not even an ox would die for a bad neighbor.<\/p>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get wrongful gains<\/h2>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get wrongful gain; wrongful gain is as bad as ruin.<\/p>\n

    \n Give to one who gives; but do not give to one who does not give.<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    The more you give; the more you will receive in return:<\/p>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcA man gives to the free-handed; but no one gives to the close-fisted.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Give more than you take<\/h2>\n

    \n Give is a good girl; but Take is bad and she brings death.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    GIVE more than I TAKE.<\/p>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThe man who gives willingly, even though he gives a great thing rejoices in his gift and is glad in heart.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    I rejoice in giving gifts; and feel gladness in my heart.<\/p>\n

    \n Whoever gives to shamelessness and takes something; even though it small; it freezes my heart.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Keep adding to what I have<\/h2>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcHe who adds to what he has, will keep off bright-eyed hunger.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Keep adding to myself; i will never go hungry.<\/p>\n

    Keep adding little on little<\/h2>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcIf you add only a little to a little and do this often; soon that little will become great.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wish for anything else<\/h2>\n

    It is a good thing to draw on what you have (borrow from myself).<\/p>\n

    It grieves my heart to need something and not to have it.<\/p>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcTake your fill when the cake is first opened and when it is nearly spent; be sparing.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Keep promises<\/h2>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcLet the wage promised to a friend be fixed\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Work with work upon work<\/h2>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcIf your heart within you desires wealth; do these things and work with work upon work.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Gods ordered men to work<\/h2>\n

    \"eric<\/p>\n

    \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcWork the work which the gods ordained for men.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    I bid you to find a way to pay your debts and avoid hunger.<\/p>\n

    Preferable things in life<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. House<\/li>\n
    2. Good wife<\/li>\n
    3. Ox (for the plough) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d computer?<\/li>\n
    4. Slave technology<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t procrastinate work<\/h2>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcDo not put your work off until tomorrow and the day after.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

      A sluggish worker does not fill his barn; nor one who puts off his work.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Always keep hustling:<\/p>\n

      \n Industry makes work go well, but a man who puts off work is always at hands-grips with ruin.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcRemember to chop your wood.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

      Practical ancient advice on farming<\/h2>\n

      \n Get two oxen; bulls of 9 years \u00e2\u20ac\u201d for their strength is unspent and they are in the prime of their age; best for work.<\/p>\n

      Let a fellow of 40 years old work; with a loaf of four quarters and eight slices for dinner. He will keep his mind on work.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Take care of your oxen<\/h2>\n

      \n The crane vexes the heart of the man who has no oxen.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      What is today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s equivalent of oxen?<\/p>\n

      Take care of my \u00e2\u20ac\u0153oxen.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

      Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wait on empty hopes; seize victory<\/h2>\n

      \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThe idle man who waits on empty hope; lacking a livelihood; lays to heart mischief-making.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Keep hustling; being industrious:<\/p>\n

      \n The industrious man can greatly prosper his house.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Build barns now, while the weather is good:<\/p>\n

      \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcIt will not always be summer; build barns now.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Ancient winter instructions<\/h2>\n

      \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcLace on your feet close-fitting boots of the hide of a slaughtered ox; thickly lined with felt inside.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

      In winter; let oxen have 1\/2 their normal food. But let men have more food; for the helpful nights are long.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Advance in my journey<\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Never stop hustling:<\/p>\n

      \n Dawn advances a man on his journey and advances him in his work.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t forget to reap my rewards<\/h2>\n

      Let me drink bright wine, sitting in the shade.<\/p>\n

      When you work hard, you can reap the rewards:<\/p>\n

      \n When my heart is satisfied with food; turning my head to face the fresh Zephyr, from the everflowing spring which pours down unfold thrice pour an offering of water; and make a fourth libation of wine.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Measure grain and store it in jars.<\/p>\n

      Take off the yoke (harness) from the oxen.<\/p>\n

      Treasure in life<\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      \n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcMan wins nothing better than a good wife\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

      \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThe best treasure a man can have is a sparing tongue\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

      If you speak evil; you yourself will soon be worse spoken of.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Common food<\/h2>\n

      Have simple dinners, simple feasts with friends:<\/p>\n

      \n Common feast the best\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the pleasure is greatest and the expense is least.<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Avoid the talk of men<\/h2>\n

      Avoid gossip, social media:<\/p>\n

      \n Talk is mischievous; light and easily raised- but hard to bear and difficult to get rid of.<\/p>\n

      \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcTalk never wholly dies away when many people voice her.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Conclusion<\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Back then, men needed to hustle to make a living.<\/p>\n

      To gain more prosperity; work harder.<\/p>\n

      To make a living; we need to work hard.<\/p>\n

      But once we make a comfortable living, and no longer fear poverty, famine, starvation, etc\u00e2\u20ac\u201d we need to enjoy the fruit of our labor.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Hustle 101 ><\/a><\/h2>\n

      \"tokyo<\/p>\n

      Learn how to make a living from your passion:<\/p>\n

      Entrepreneurial Principles<\/h2>\n