cultural resources in henrik ibsen's early environment - Ibsen.net

By labor is understood every endeavor to obtain an intented, useful benefit from
an appropriate activity. Therefore a broader meaning lies in this word than that which
one ordinarily understands by it, namely, a strenuous application of physical energies;
accordingly, in the suggested sense spiritual activity is called labor, and it is about this, as
well as about every other useful activity, that the sentence can be employed: Labor is its
own reward.
Talents for activity are implanted in the person's nature, and the possession of
these is naturally a good; but this good by no means lies in their dead presence, on the
contrary, it is called forth only insofar as they are used for that purpose for which they are
given, namely for activity. Accordingly, work is the only means whereby, so to speak, we
actually come into possession of our talents, considered as a good; since an ability which
is not used is a nothingness, and an ability used for a harmful or incorrect purpose is even
in its feelings an evil; but every activity whereby a useful result is intended is work;
consequently work is not only a means, but even the only means whereby our talents for
activity become a good for us.
Whether the person is brought to activity by the inner impulse to it, which to a
higher or lower degree is innate in everyone, or whether his situation compels him, under
all circumstances the result is the same. In the first case he follows his inclination and
thereby has compensation enough for his toil; in the second case one acts out of necessity,
but this necessity is in reality a good, as thereby he is put in a position to improve his
position and earn increased means to well-being and enjoyment.
However, that which is understood by the reward which lies in the labor is not the
material benefit of the activity, since this reward rather appears as a consequence of the
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