Thomas Carlyle ~*Know Thy Work*~

Thomas Carlyle seems to be a unique character, "difficult and cranky" (475). Carlyle had moved from small village farms to the city life in London. He was able to see the difference in society and how the government was running the country from the living in different perspectives. Living in the city was not at all great for those like Carlyle that had to live in poverty with poor health. His stories tell of the living situations at the time of big change to the Industrial Revolution, yet government seemed to not tend to the health of society. He wrote of many great leaders like Oliver Cromwell that he hoped would inspire because "Carlyle believed that strong leaders were the only hope for social reform" (476).
In his piece Know Thy Work, Carlyle discussed the importance to "Know thy work and do it. Know thyself" (481). Knowing your work and enjoying it helps one know more of themselves. He describes the working man as to being "noble and sacred" (481). He speaks of the nonworkers as having "idleness" and they will not get much accomplished. When you perform your work, you must put your all and love what you do. My close friend sometimes mentions that he wants a new job in search of something that may pay better. Eventually he always is hesitant because he loves what he does and even though he wishes he could get a high paying job, he always mentions every time he completes a job and hears a customers satisfaction and praise on his job well done, that is worth his work and he has "the blessed glow of Labour in him". If you don't have your heart set on your job, you may not be happy in your future if you continue to pursure it. Carlyle says "Labour is Life", this makes me think that your job in a way represent who you are (482). You are able to learn what you like or dislike from the work that you do and understand more about who you are. You aquire the "self-knowledge" (482).
He seems to highly respect the working class. They say "there's no such thing as a free lunch", and this relates to Carlyle's piece because you work and earn what you get not just receive it by being "idle".