"We are workers in the common, universal work of God. The ways by which this work is done are not accessible to us, just as workers cannot be accessible to all the tasks of the master (the example, of course, is far from complete, comparing the universal, eternal movement with the particular, temporary work). Any attempt by the worker to guess what the master's work consists of is a waste of effort. Making assumptions results in distraction and slows down the completion of the work. And thus the worker will be deprived of the greatest good, the consciousness of the certainty that he is doing what the master wants of him. This consciousness is given to man only in one way. If he deviates from the master's will, the worker deprives himself of good, if he fulfills it, he receives this good.
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Author
Leo TolstoyAll Translations
All Translations
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We are workers in the common, universal work of God. The ways by which this work is done are not accessible to us, just as workers cannot be accessible to all the tasks of the master (the example, of course, is far from complete, comparing the universal, eternal movement with the particular, temporary work). Any attempt by the worker to guess what the master's work consists of is a waste of effort. Making assumptions results in distraction and slows down the completion of the work. And thus the worker will be deprived of the greatest good, the consciousness of the certainty that he is doing what the master wants of him. This consciousness is given to man only in one way. If he deviates from the master's will, the worker deprives himself of good, if he fulfills it, he receives this good.
""Suntem muncitorii lucrării comune, universale, a lui Dumnezeu. Căile prin care se săvârșește această lucrare nu ne sunt accesibile, la fel cum lucrătorilor nu le pot fi accesibile toate treburile stăpânului (exemplul, bineințeles, e departe de a fi complet, comparând mișcarea universală, veșnica cu lucrarea particular, temporară). Orice încercare a lucrătorului de a ghici în ce constă lucrarea stăpânului este o irosire a forțelor. Crearea de ipoteze are ca rezultat distragerea atenției și încetinește ducerea la capăt a lucrării. Iar astfel lucrătorul va fi lipsit de cel mai mare bine, de conștiința certitudinii că face ce vrea de la el stăpânul. Aceasta conștiința e dată omului numai într-un singur mod. Dacă se abate de la voia stăpânului, lucrătorul se lipsește de bine, dacă o îndeplinește, primește acest bine."