HANDS:
hands
hands title:
§12. Rule 6: Rhythm
hands date:
10 September 2025
hands text:
The cautious seldom err.
01
Good work is about rhythm.
02
You should never begin any task in haste. The impulse to rush into work often feels like enthusiasm, but it is merely impatience disguised as energy. True work begins not with speed but with composure. A slow, deliberate start allows the body to find its rhythm and the mind to align with what must be done.
03
When you begin slowly, something subtle happens. The hands, the breath, the thoughts — all begin to move in harmony. The task no longer feels like a burden to be conquered but a process to be entered. If, on the other hand, you rush, the initial burst of energy fades quickly, leaving only strain and frustration in its wake.
04
We are, frankly, somewhat sceptical of workers who are too fervent. Ideally, throughout the work, one should remain in good spirits — neither overly excited nor upset but calm and good-natured.
05
The worker who starts too sharply soon finds himself exhausted. His movements lose precision, his judgment falters, and the quality of his work declines. Fatigue is not a sign of diligence here, but of imbalance — a warning that the pace was wrong from the start.
06
It is better to work as evenly as possible, without sudden peaks or drops in effort. Steady labour has its own quiet power. It sustains the worker and preserves the integrity of the work. Agitated work, however productive it may seem in the moment, leaves both the worker and the result diminished.
07
Every long effort must include pauses. The rhythm of work, like breathing, depends on the alternation of exertion and rest. A short break renews attention, steadies the pulse, and restores the will to continue.
08
For demanding physical work, these breaks should be frequent and restorative — a chance to sit down, breathe, and let the body recover. For lighter tasks, pauses may be fewer, but they should still come regularly, like small intervals in music.
09
To work well, then, is to respect rhythm: a calm beginning, a steady continuation, and deliberate rest. This balance keeps both the worker and the work alive — strong, measured, and enduring.