Work Without Love Is Slavery

"“No other technique for the conduct of life attaches the individual so firmly to reality as laying emphasis on work; for his work at least gives him a secure place in a portion of reality, in the human community. The possibility it offers of displacing a large amount of libidinal components, whether narcissistic, aggressive or even erotic, on to professional work and on to the human relations connected with it lends it a value by no means second to what it enjoys as something indispensible to the preservation and justification of existence in society. Professional activity is a source of special satisfaction if it is a freely chosen one — if, that is to say, by means of sublimation, it makes possible the use of existing inclinations, of persisting or constitutionally reinforced instinctual impulses. And yet, as a path to happiness, work is not highly prized by men. They do not strive after it as they do after other possibilities of satisfaction. The great majority of people only work under the stress of necessity, and this natural human aversion to work raises most difficult social problems.”"

"“They do not love that do not show their love.”"

"“There is a certain right by which we many deprive a man of life, but none by which we may deprive him of death; this is mere cruelty.”"

"“Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.”"

"“Love is a better master than duty.”"

"“The unexamined life is not worth living.”"