Of the Value of Industry
Created | Updated Sep 18, 2004
And the man stood before the seat of the judge (who was the least of the angels of heaven), and the judge looked kindly upon the man and asked him what in his life he had made. So the man told the judge that he had built a great enterprise and that it was very profitable and that many people had gained some wealth from that enterprise. Then the judge asked the man whether this was the greatest of the works of his life, and the man said that this was the greatest work of his life and that it was a work to be compared with the work of the life of any man.
Then the judge (who was the least of the angels of heaven) raised his right hand, and lo, there was a world fairer than the Earth, a world of richness and bounty. Then the judge raised his left hand and lo, that world was peopled with a fair and just people who made of that world a land of wealth and happiness. And the judge said to the man: "Go to that world and there make a work that you shall show me".
So the man went to the world which was rich beyond the riches of the Earth, and the people of that world welcomed the man. Then the man said to the people: "I would build an enterprise here".
And he devised plans and showed the people of that world how these plans might bring them greater wealth than that which they had. But the people said to the man that he might dwell among them forever and live from the bounty of the world - for they loved all folk and would see none wanting - but that he might in no way build an enterprise on that world. For they lacked nothing that they desired.
So the man returned and stood again before the seat of the judge, and was downcast. And he said to the judge: "I may dwell in the world that you have shown me, but in that world I have no work. Do with me what you will". Then the judge smiled upon the man and said: "Return to that world and live there forever in idleness, and you shall make of yourself whatever you can of love or of despair". And this was the judgement of that judge (who was the least of the angels of heaven).
Then the judge (who was the least of the angels of heaven) raised his right hand, and lo, there was a world fairer than the Earth, a world of richness and bounty. Then the judge raised his left hand and lo, that world was peopled with a fair and just people who made of that world a land of wealth and happiness. And the judge said to the man: "Go to that world and there make a work that you shall show me".
So the man went to the world which was rich beyond the riches of the Earth, and the people of that world welcomed the man. Then the man said to the people: "I would build an enterprise here".
And he devised plans and showed the people of that world how these plans might bring them greater wealth than that which they had. But the people said to the man that he might dwell among them forever and live from the bounty of the world - for they loved all folk and would see none wanting - but that he might in no way build an enterprise on that world. For they lacked nothing that they desired.
So the man returned and stood again before the seat of the judge, and was downcast. And he said to the judge: "I may dwell in the world that you have shown me, but in that world I have no work. Do with me what you will". Then the judge smiled upon the man and said: "Return to that world and live there forever in idleness, and you shall make of yourself whatever you can of love or of despair". And this was the judgement of that judge (who was the least of the angels of heaven).
