第 51 节
作者:
暖暖 更新:2021-02-24 23:00 字数:9322
of person who uses weakness as a weapon to gain a purpose; not support。 The tears of many women have long been recognized as potent in that warfare that goes on between the sexes; the melting of opposition to the whim or wish when this manifestation of weakness is used is an old story。 The emotional display renders the man uncomfortable; it disturbs him; he fears to increase it lest the opponent become sick; his conscience reproaches him; and he yields rather than 〃make a fuss。〃 Tears can be replaced by symptoms of a hysteric nature。 I do not mean that these symptoms are caused by the effort to win; but they become useful and are made habitual。 Nor is this found only in woman; after an accident there are men in plenty whose symptoms play a role in securing compensation for themselves; not necessarily as malingerers。 It is in human nature to desire the sympathy of others; and in some cases this sympathy is sought because through sympathy some other good will be forthcoming;a new dress; a lump sum of money; or merely securing one's own way。 Very noticeably do children tend to injure themselves if crossed; anger tends to turn on itself; and the effect on the other party is soon realized; and often utilized。 A child may strike its head against the floor without any other motive than that arising from hopeless anger; but if this brings the parents to their knees;'1' the association is made and the experience becomes part of the working technique of the child。 '1' This turning of anger upon itself is a factor in self…destruction。 It is seen; so the naturalists say; in the snake and the asp; and it is common in human relations。
5。 There is in man an urge to activity independent of reward save in the satisfaction that comes from that activity。 This current is organized into work; and the goal becomes achievement。 The most powerful factor in discharging the energies of man is the desire for achievement。 Wealth; superiority; power; philanthropy; renown; safety and pleasure enormously reinforce this purpose; but behind the GOOD work of the world is the passion to create; to make something; to mold the resisting forces of nature into usefulness and beauty。 Handicraftsman; artist; farmer; miner; housewife; writer;all labor contradicts the legend that work is a curse。 To gain by work; to obtain desires through labor; is a method of attainment that is a natural ideal of man。 This makes opportune a discussion of the work…traits。 Since ours is an industrial society; in which the work of a member is his means of obtaining not only respect; but a living; these traits are largely those by which he is judged and by which he judges himself。 Since work for some is their life and for others their means of obtaining a living; it is obvious that the work…traits may be all the traits of the individual; or only a few of them。 Certain traits are especially important; and to these we must limit ourselves。 The energy of the individual。 Some are so constituted that they can constantly discharge their energy at a high rate。 These are the dynamics; the hyperkinetic; the Rooseveltianstrenuousthe busy people; always able to do more。 The modern American life holds this type as an ideal; though it is quite questionable whether these rather over…busy people do not lose in reflective and creative ability。 The rushing stream turns the wheels of the mills; but it is too strenuous for stately ships。 This type however achieves things; is seen often in the fine executive and usually needs no urging。 There is another fine type not so well adapted to our civilization; which is easily exhausted; but can accomplish very much in a short time; in other words discharges energy intermittently at a high rate。 Charles Darwin was of this kindintermittently hyperkinetic obliged to rest after an hour's labor; but by understanding this; WILLING to rest。 Unfortunately; unless one is a genius or rich; industry does not make allowances for this type。 Industry is organized on steadiness of energy discharge;eight hours every day; six days a week。 The commonest type is the 〃average〃 person who is capable of moderately intense but constant activity。 This is the steady man and woman; it is upon this steadiness that the whole factoryshop systemis based。 That this steadiness deadens; injures vivacity and makes for restlessness; is another matter。 A distinctly pathological type is found in some feebleminded and some high mentalities。 This unfortunate discharges energy at a low rate is slow in action and often intermittent as well as hypokinetic。 The loafer and the tramp are of this type。 Around the water front of the seaports one can find the finest specimens who do odd jobs for as much as will pay for lodging and food and drink。 Perhaps the order of the desired rewards should be reversed。 Every village furnishes individuals of this group; either unable or unwilling to work consecutively or with energy。 Often purposeless day…dreamers or else bereft of normal human mentality; these are the chronically unemployed of our social… industrial system。 It must be remembered that to work steadily every day and in the same place is not an innate circumstance of man's life。 For the untold centuries before he developed into an agriculturist and a handicraftsman; he sought his food and his protection in the simplest way and with little steady labor。 Whether as hunter or fisher or nomad herdsman; he lived in the open air; slept in caves or in rudely constructed shelters and knew nothing of those purposes that keep men working from morning till night。 It's a long way from primitive man and his occupations; with their variety and their relaxations; to the factory hand; shut up in a shop all day and doing just one thing year in and year out; to the housewife with her multitudinous; never…ending tasks within four walls; to the merchant engrossed with profit and loss; weighing; measuring; buying; selling and worrying without cessation。 The burden of steadiness in labor is new to the race; and it is only habit; necessity and social valuation that keeps most men to their wheel。 We would; I think; be oversentimental in our treatment of this subject if we omitted two hugely important factors in work character。 Two powerful motives operate;the necessity of working and work as an escape from ourselves。 Not much need be said of the pressure of necessity。 〃To eat one must work。〃 This sentence condenses the threat behind most of the workers of the world。 They cannot stop if they wouldfor few are those; even in prosperous communities; who have three months of idleness in their savings。 The feeling of insecurity this fact brings makes a nightmare out of the lives of the many; for to the poor worker the charity organization is part of the penalty to be paid for sickness or unemployment。 To my mind there are few things more pathetic than a good man out of a job; and few things for which our present society can be so heartily damned。 Few even of the middle class can rest; their way of living leaves them little reserve; and so they plug along; with necessity as the spur to their industry。 To escape ourselves! Put any person of adult age; or younger; in a room with nothing to do but think; and you reduce him to abject misery and restlessness。 Most of our reading; entertainment; has this object; and if necessity did not spur men on to work steadily; the tedium of their own thoughts would。 To reflect is pleasant only to a few; and the need of a task is the need of the average human being。 Perhaps once upon a time in some idyllic age; some fabled age of innocence; time passed pleasantly without work。 To…day; work is the prime way of killing time; adding therefore to its functions of organizing activity; achievement and social value of recreation。 Yet contradictory as it seems; though many of us love work for its own sake; most of us do not love our own work。 That is because few of us choose our work; it is thrust upon us。 Happy is he who has chosen and chosen wisely! Industry; energy; steadiness are parts of the work…equipment; enthusiasm; eagerness; the love of work; in short; is another part。 Love of work is not a unitary character; it is a resultant of many forces and motives。 Springing from the love of activity; it receives its direction from ambition and is reinforced by success and achievement。 Few can continue to love a work at which they fail; for self…love is injured and that paralyzes the activity。 Here and there is some one who can love his work; even though he is half…starved as a result;a poet; a novelist; an inventor; a scientist; but these dream and hope for better things。 But the bulk of the half…starved labor of the world; half…starved literally as well as symbolically; has no light of hope ahead of it and cannot love the work that does not offer a reward。 It is easy for those who reap pleasure and reward from their labors to sing of the joy of work; business man; professional man; artist; handicraftsman; farmer;these may find in the thing they do the satisfaction of the creative desires and the reward of seeing their product; but the factory is a Frankenstein delivering huge masses of products but eating up the producers。 The more specialized it becomes the less each man creates of the unit; machine or ornament; the less he