Jerome K Jerome in ‘Three Men in a Boat (to Say Nothing of the Dog)’ :
“It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. I love to keep it by me: the idea of getting rid of it nearly breaks my heart.
You cannot give me too much work; to accumulate work has almost become a passion with me: my study is so full of it now, that there is hardly an inch of room for any more. I shall have to throw out a wing soon.
And I am careful of my work, too. Why, some of the work that I have by me now has been in my possession for years and years, and there isn’t a finger-mark on it. I take a great pride in my work; I take it down now and then and dust it. No man keeps his work in a better state of preservation than I do.
But, though I crave for work, I still like to be fair. I do not ask for more than my proper share.
But I get it without asking for it - at least, so it appears to me - and this worries me.
”
Ants have yet to build a power plant…I mean, it could be very small, but built to their scale. I’ve been in my boat up on sandbars in the river, and those isolated ants haven’t built one either. Can you imagine what would happen if they were able to pull it off? Little wires strung everywhere, etc.
“Woodeye” said every day was Saturday. Did you know that there’s no such astronomical event we call a Saturday? Plainly put, it’s on the calendar which is why we perceive it, but it doesn’t actually exist. The sun merely rises once again. Oh well, it helps TV programming.
Uh, if the sun rises once again, by definition there’s an astronomical event involved: the one that defines the solar day.
It’s the time at which the count of days begins and the place at which the calendar day begins which are established by fiat. However, these too have their roots in an historical astronomical event, specifically, the alignment of the sun, moon and earth at a particular astronomical new moon. So “fiat” goes rather deeper than mere human choice here.
When I was a kid we lived at the edge of a woods and there were several ant hills out there. I used to watch them do their ant things and was fascinated by their discipline and how highly organized they were. I was also envious of them because of their strength to size ratio. [exoskeletons have a big advantage.] But work ethic? I think not. They do what they do out of instinct because they have to. About the closest “human” things I could associate with ants would be the Borg from Star Trek Generations.
“Did you know that there’s no such astronomical event we call a Saturday? Plainly put, it’s on the calendar which is why we perceive it, but it doesn’t actually exist. The sun merely rises once again. Oh well, it helps TV programming.”
Even the separate days are an artifact of your position on the Earth. Seen as a whole, there is only one eternal day, which keeps progressing around the planet.
“Saturday” exists, as much as anything in human culture exists. And, since I survive only with the help of human culture, I certainly hope that exists, and continues to do so.
calvin and hobbes is like garfield, just to bad c+bs ended. it’s a classic, always and forever. leave it to THIS comic strip to have a twist that not a lot of people can think of.
Sadly, it seems the idea of a work ethic is rapidly disappearing. I can’t stand to work with most of my peers, prefer working with the older set (late thirties and older seems to be good). Of course, you can’t always count on them either…
margueritem almost 15 years ago
LOL! Just so Calvin!
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
Don’t make a mountain out of an anthill (or a molehill, either), Calvin! “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” Proverbs 6:6
Rakkav almost 15 years ago
Just so Calvin, and (too often) just so me and so many of our fellow ENFPs! “There’s got to be an easier way”, that’s our motto! :))
cleokaya almost 15 years ago
I am having an issue here… What does the term “work ethic” refer to?
ladywolf17 almost 15 years ago
It means the values of hard work instilled or held by an employee.
ladywolf17 almost 15 years ago
Those ants have more energy in them than the energizer bunny has in its battery.
GROG Premium Member almost 15 years ago
I can’t relate…I’m an ISTJ.
Yukoner almost 15 years ago
Whenever I get the urge to work like that I lie down until it goes away.
COWBOY7 almost 15 years ago
Hobbes does not have anything to say because it’s too much work!
Work ethic is a set of values based on hard work and diligence.
Bargrove almost 15 years ago
I had an aunt like that once.
kpeiyin almost 15 years ago
I wish I had the time Calvin has…
vibjyor almost 15 years ago
Jerome K Jerome in ‘Three Men in a Boat (to Say Nothing of the Dog)’ :
“It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. I love to keep it by me: the idea of getting rid of it nearly breaks my heart.
You cannot give me too much work; to accumulate work has almost become a passion with me: my study is so full of it now, that there is hardly an inch of room for any more. I shall have to throw out a wing soon.
And I am careful of my work, too. Why, some of the work that I have by me now has been in my possession for years and years, and there isn’t a finger-mark on it. I take a great pride in my work; I take it down now and then and dust it. No man keeps his work in a better state of preservation than I do.
But, though I crave for work, I still like to be fair. I do not ask for more than my proper share.
But I get it without asking for it - at least, so it appears to me - and this worries me. ”
You cant put it better than that, can you !
WoodEye almost 15 years ago
I used to be like that…. Now every day is a Saturday. It’s better now.
Miss.Fit almost 15 years ago
That’s so like me… LOL..!!
@vibjyor : ROFL… well said… !!!
rentier almost 15 years ago
Work ethic!
carmy almost 15 years ago
No surprises there, Calvin.
lewisbower almost 15 years ago
Calvin, what no magnifying glass?
kreole almost 15 years ago
Ants have yet to build a power plant…I mean, it could be very small, but built to their scale. I’ve been in my boat up on sandbars in the river, and those isolated ants haven’t built one either. Can you imagine what would happen if they were able to pull it off? Little wires strung everywhere, etc.
kreole almost 15 years ago
“Woodeye” said every day was Saturday. Did you know that there’s no such astronomical event we call a Saturday? Plainly put, it’s on the calendar which is why we perceive it, but it doesn’t actually exist. The sun merely rises once again. Oh well, it helps TV programming.
Rakkav almost 15 years ago
Uh, if the sun rises once again, by definition there’s an astronomical event involved: the one that defines the solar day.
It’s the time at which the count of days begins and the place at which the calendar day begins which are established by fiat. However, these too have their roots in an historical astronomical event, specifically, the alignment of the sun, moon and earth at a particular astronomical new moon. So “fiat” goes rather deeper than mere human choice here.
Bargrove almost 15 years ago
vibjyor: Thank you, little butterfly.
jrbj almost 15 years ago
When I was a kid we lived at the edge of a woods and there were several ant hills out there. I used to watch them do their ant things and was fascinated by their discipline and how highly organized they were. I was also envious of them because of their strength to size ratio. [exoskeletons have a big advantage.] But work ethic? I think not. They do what they do out of instinct because they have to. About the closest “human” things I could associate with ants would be the Borg from Star Trek Generations.
Nighthawks Premium Member almost 15 years ago
two things. a lit firecracker inserted into the ant hill, and then a coffee can firmly pressed into the earth over the hill….
presto, ant hiroshima!
jbmetalmonster almost 15 years ago
ok that was just bad…
MisngNOLA almost 15 years ago
vibjyor? why not vibgyor? was that taken? just wondering.
bald almost 15 years ago
i used to have a work ethic like that , but left it in my locker when i retired
wicky almost 15 years ago
I really would expect that comment from Andy Capp.
Plods with ...™ almost 15 years ago
work smarter, not harder
ruidai almost 15 years ago
I love Calvin: so brutally honest with himself.
yankeewhaler almost 15 years ago
Yeah no sense in working hard and doing 80% of the work, but not get paid 80% more than the slackers around you.
rdandrearocha almost 15 years ago
Small correction: a worker ant is always a she, not a he. males are only good for mating with young queens and then they die.
bmonk almost 15 years ago
kreole said, about 8 hours ago
“Did you know that there’s no such astronomical event we call a Saturday? Plainly put, it’s on the calendar which is why we perceive it, but it doesn’t actually exist. The sun merely rises once again. Oh well, it helps TV programming.”
Even the separate days are an artifact of your position on the Earth. Seen as a whole, there is only one eternal day, which keeps progressing around the planet.
“Saturday” exists, as much as anything in human culture exists. And, since I survive only with the help of human culture, I certainly hope that exists, and continues to do so.
bald almost 15 years ago
rac0308 said, about 2 hours ago
work smarter, not harder
that’s what my old supervisor used to say, but still did things the old way
coffeeturtle almost 15 years ago
Calvin will make a fine State worker. What?? j/k
johnnydoc5 almost 15 years ago
I can’t identify with it either.
YatInExile almost 15 years ago
Sit and watch ants? Yes, I do.
As I sit and watch television, I watch them crawl over my feet and up my leg. -grrrr-
jhcoker almost 15 years ago
calvin and hobbes is like garfield, just to bad c+bs ended. it’s a classic, always and forever. leave it to THIS comic strip to have a twist that not a lot of people can think of.
spbatwork almost 15 years ago
rdandrearocha: Sounds good to me. You know any young queens?
ratlum almost 15 years ago
Calvin and Hobbes watching ants doing what they are programed to do I could belong to that kind fan club or group Are refreshments aloud ?
vexatron1984 almost 15 years ago
Sadly, it seems the idea of a work ethic is rapidly disappearing. I can’t stand to work with most of my peers, prefer working with the older set (late thirties and older seems to be good). Of course, you can’t always count on them either…
alviebird almost 15 years ago
I don’t like to preach, but since it was brought up…
God sanctified (set apart) the seventh day (Saturday, or the Sabbath), and instructed us to keep it holy.
Awesome-o almost 15 years ago
One thought goes on to the next…
vibjyor almost 15 years ago
to MisngNOLA :
I made a mistake while taking the name, but decided to keep it since I felt it was easier on the tongue.
krisch almost 15 years ago
No Life Lessons here for our boy Calvin.