Oh God, it ’ s Monday! “ Oh, God, it ’ s Monday! ” How many millions say that to themselves when they wake to the unwelcome realization that it ’ s the start of another working week. From the day we leave school or college to the day we retire, unless we have inherited money or are looking after a home and children ( in which case we do work of a different kind). the majority of us, faced with the choice of paid work or living on the streets, choose the former. If you ’ re lucky, you enjoy your work. If you really unlucky, your job is extremely boring or involves punishing physical labor. Most of us fall somewhere in-between, engaged in work that we don ’ t enjoy a lot but that is nevertheless acceptable. We spend quite a lot of time complaining about our jobs, the awful travelling conditions, the unkind boss, the long hours, our competitive colleagues, our lack of promotion, the poor pay. But though it ’ s mostly unacknowledged, we all share the feeling that there ’ s a dignity and honour in work. The knowledge that you are using your skills to support yourself rather than have someone else support you gives you self-respect and allows you to hold your head high. The simple act of turning up day after day and doing a job well requires discipline. Achievements bring their own reward and the respect of others. The fact is, hard though work may be, even in these days of the welfare state, there are few who would choose to be unemployed. Once we grow up we find within us an innate desire to be useful to society, to contribute in some way and prove our worth. It could be argued that the success of the British Empire, which colonized large parts of the world in the 19 th century, was at least in part due to the work ethic that arose in Britain during that period. Note, this is not to say that the British Empire always benefited the countries it colonized but it certainly brought great wealth to the British. Today, Germany, economically the most successful country in Europe, is known for its powerful work ethic. And China, a country that is predicated to rise and rise, is another example of how a strong work ethic brings success. What was it the American inventor Thomas Edison said? “ Genius is one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration. ” That sounds just about right.