Ancient Wisdom on Work and Preparation - Lessons from Hesiod, Xenophon, and Cicero

“οὐκ αἰεὶ θέρος ἐσσεῖται, ποιεῖσθε καλιάς.”
“Summer will not last forever; build shelters.”
—— Hesiod Works and Days 503

【Commentary】
How should we prepare for the coming winter? Hesiod teaches that the diligent can enrich their homes before the harsh cold arrives and hinders their labor. This line comes from a passage urging farmers not to neglect building shelters during the heat of summer to weather the winter ahead. It transcends mere agricultural advice, suggesting a universal wisdom for managing our lives: seize opportunities and prepare for the future. The warning that good times do not last forever resonates deeply with us even today.

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“μηδʼ ἀναβάλλεσθαι ἔς τʼ αὔριον ἔς τε ἔνηφιν.”
“Do not put off until tomorrow and the day after.”
—— Hesiod Works and Days 410

【Commentary】
The temptation to “do it later” seems to be a timeless human trait. Hesiod delivers this famous warning while instructing his brother Perses on the principles of farming. He sternly cautions that those who procrastinate will not fill their granaries and will always be on the verge of ruin. In agriculture, an endeavor that demands timely action in harmony with the cycles of nature, postponement was a fatal error. This saying powerfully conveys the importance of immediate execution in our work, a message that transcends the ages.

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“ἔργον δʼ οὐδὲν ὄνειδος, ἀεργίη δέ τʼ ὄνειδος.”
“Work is no disgrace; it is idleness which is a disgrace.”
—— Hesiod Works and Days 311

【Commentary】
Which affects human dignity more—working or not working? The Greek poet Hesiod presents this forceful antithesis while admonishing his idle brother, Perses. According to him, both gods and men despise the lazy, who are like drones that steal the labor of bees. He argues that those who build wealth through labor also acquire virtue and renown. This concise line encapsulates the strict yet sound work ethic of ancient agrarian society, which saw value in labor itself and condemned idleness as an ethical failing. Work was not only a means of sustenance but also a source of human pride.

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“ὀρθῶς δὲ ἐπιμελομένῳ καὶ μὴ καταμαλακιζομένῳ μᾶλλον εἰκὸς τὸν οἶκον αὔξεσθαι.”
“If a man is properly attentive and not lazy, it is reasonable that his household will prosper.”
—— Xenophon Economics 11.12

【Commentary】
A healthy life requires both a sound body and a prosperous household. This passage comes from the ideal estate manager, Ischomachus, who explains that his health and his property management are inextricably linked. He believes that daily labor and training bring health and strength, and that this diligence leads directly to the prosperity of the household. Here, we see a clear philosophy: the key to success in work and life is to guard against mental laxity and maintain meticulous attention to detail. The accumulation of diligent days becomes the very soil in which the community of the household grows.

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“ἔστι δʼ οὐδὲν οὕτως […] οὔτʼ εὔχρηστον οὔτε καλὸν ἀνθρώποις ὡς τάξις.”
“For mankind, there is nothing so useful or so beautiful as order.”
—— Xenophon Economics 8.3

【Commentary】
A beautiful choir, an effective army, and a well-managed home all share a common principle: “order” (taxis). The master of household management, Ischomachus, teaches the importance of order to his young wife, who is frustrated at being unable to find things. He explains that while a disorganized group produces only confusion, things arranged in an orderly fashion are not only beautiful to behold but can also function at their highest potential. This teaches us that managing one’s life is not merely about tidiness but is a philosophy of putting everything in its proper place to achieve both utility and beauty.

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“οὐ γνώμῃ διαφέροντες ἀλλήλων […] ἀλλὰ σαφῶς ἐπιμελείᾳ.”
“They differ from one another not in knowledge … but clearly in attentiveness (diligence).”
—— Xenophon Economics 20.6

【Commentary】
Why do results differ even among those who possess the same knowledge? Xenophon finds the answer in “epimeleia” (care, diligence). Even the most brilliant plans and insights are worthless without the diligence to see them through. The same can be said for any kind of work or preparation. True ability is demonstrated not in what one knows, but in what one does.

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“numquam se minus otiosum esse, quam cum otiosus, nec minus solum, quam cum solus esset.”
“He was never less at leisure than when at leisure, nor less alone than when alone.”
—— Cicero De Officiis 3.1

【Commentary】
Which is more productive, a time of quiet or a time of activity? Cicero quotes this paradoxical saying from the great Roman general Scipio Africanus. During his leisure time away from public duties, Scipio would contemplate matters of state, and in his solitude, he would converse with himself, never ceasing his mental activity. This demonstrates the insight that “work” is not just visible labor but also includes crucial internal processes like contemplation and self-reflection. True diligence lies in a state of mind that can turn even leisure and solitude into a stage for creative activity.

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“in tota vita constituenda […] ut constare in perpetuitate vitae possimus nobismet ipsis.”
“In planning our whole life… we must take care that we can be consistent with ourselves throughout our life.”
—— Cicero De Officiis 1.119

【Commentary】
On the stage of life, what role do you play? Cicero argues that when choosing a path, one should look first to one’s own innate nature (natura) rather than to fate or the expectations of others. This passage teaches that the most important principle in forming a lifelong plan—a career plan—is to “remain true to oneself.” The “preparation” for one’s work and life is not merely a quest for social success but a deeply internal endeavor to maintain one’s own integrity and build a life free of contradiction.

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“hoc autem tunditur, ut fiat utile.”
“This, however, is beaten, so that it may become useful.”
—— Pliny the Elder Naturalis Historia 19.2

【Commentary】
How does a single blade of grass become a tool that supports civilization? Pliny the Elder describes the processing of esparto grass, which was used to make ship ropes and footwear. This sentence explains that after being harvested and soaked, the grass must be beaten repeatedly before it is transformed into a tough, water-resistant, and useful material. This process encapsulates the essence of work: human labor, when applied to raw materials, creates new value. It is painstaking preparation that turns a mere “thing” into a “tool” that serves our lives.

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“nihil ergo intemptatum inexpertumque illis fuit, nihil deinde occultatum.”
“For them, therefore, nothing was left untried or unexperienced, and then nothing was concealed.”
—— Pliny the Elder Naturalis Historia 25.1

【Commentary】
Pliny contrasts the great achievements of the past with the idleness of the present. He praises the diligence of the ancients who sought to pass down their knowledge of medicinal herbs, while lamenting his contemporaries who concealed it. The quoted passage is a tribute to those ancient explorers. They scoured rugged mountains and untamed lands and generously shared the knowledge they acquired. This spirit of inquiry and openness represents an ideal attitude toward “work.” Pliny’s words remind us of the importance of diligent exploration and of contributing its fruits back to society.

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(Editorial assistance: Tomomi Nakayama, Tsuguka Utsumi)