Fruits of labour are sweeter than the gifts of fortune
Man is creative by nature and it gives him great pleasure and much satisfaction if he succeeds in doing something for himself. If he can make a simple toy, he is filled with delight. Every man is a creator in his own way and derives satisfaction and pride from his creation. Let us take a very ordinary example. Most of us at one time or other are obliged to cook our food for ourselves, and we all know that the quality of the food cooked with our own hands is seldom equal to the one cooked by our mothers or wives. But we find it more tasty and palatable than the best dishes served else-where. It is the joy of one’s own creation that adds sweetness to the food. Doing things for one-self is often fraught with trials and tribulations, pains and frustrations but the results are always sweet and satisfying. We take pride in what we have been able to achieve with our own efforts than what others have done for us. Receiving a gift is pleasant no doubt, but it also involves obligation to the giver. And every obligation is a degradation of the self. It hurts our sense of pride or self-respect. It is, therefore, natural for a man to feel more proud of his own achievements than of the gifts that he gets. Gifts do not fill us with a sense of pride of achievement.
This does not mean that gifts are unwelcome or useless. On the contrary, they are most welcome and valuable. The only difference is that the fruits of our own labour are sweeter than the gifts of fortune.
