Our quarrel with efficiency is not that it gets things done, but that it is a thief of time when it leaves us no leisure to enjoy ourselves, and that it strains our nerves when we try to get things done perfectly.
Our
quarrel
with
efficiency
is
not
that
it
gets
things
done
,
but
that
it
is
a
thief
of
time
when
it
leaves
us
no
leisure
to
enjoy
ourselves
,
and
that
it
strains
our
nerves
when
we
try
to
get
things
done
perfectly
.
In building bridges, American engineers calculate so finely and exactly as to make the two ends come together within one-tenth of an inch.
In
building
bridges
,
American
engineers
calculate
so
finely
and
exactly
as
to
make
the
two
ends
come
together
within
one-tenth
of
an
inch
.
But when two Chinese begin to dig a tunnel from both sides of a mountain both come out on the other side.
But
when
two
Chinese
begin
to
dig
a
tunnel
from
both
sides
of
a
mountain
both
come
out
on
the
other
side
.
-- The Chinese's firm belief is that it doesn't matter so long as a tunnel is dug through, and if we have two instead of one, why, we have a double track to boot.
--
The
Chinese
's
firm
belief
is
that
it
does
n't
matter
so
long
as
a
tunnel
is
dug
through
,
and
if
we
have
two
instead
of
one
,
why
,
we
have
a
double
track
to
boot
.
The pace of modern industrial life forbids this kind of glorious and magnificent idling.
The
pace
of
modern
industrial
life
forbids
this
kind
of
glorious
and
magnificent
idling
.
But, worse than that, it imposes upon us a different conception of time as measured by the clock and eventually turns the human being into a clock himself.
But
,
worse
than
that
,
it
imposes
upon
us
a
different
conception
of
time
as
measured
by
the
clock
and
eventually
turns
the
human
being
into
a
clock
himself
.
(This sort of thing is bound to come to China, as is evident, for instance, in the case of a factory of twenty thousand worker.
(
This
sort
of
thing
is
bound
to
come
to
China
,
as
is
evident
,
for
instance
,
in
the
case
of
a
factory
of
twenty
thousand
worker
.
The luxurious prospect of twenty thousand workers coming in at their own sweet pleasure at all hours is, of course, somewhat terrifying.
The
luxurious
prospect
of
twenty
thousand
workers
coming
in
at
their
own
sweet
pleasure
at
all
hours
is
,
of
course
,
somewhat
terrifying
.
) Nevertheless, such efficiency is what makes life so hard and full of excitement.
)
Nevertheless
,
such
efficiency
is
what
makes
life
so
hard
and
full
of
excitement
.
A man who has to be punctually at a certain place at five o'clock has the whole afternoon from one to five ruined for him already.
A
man
who
has
to
be
punctually
at
a
certain
place
at
five
o'clock
has
the
whole
afternoon
from
one
to
five
ruined
for
him
already
.
Every American adult is arranging his time on the pattern of the schoolboy - three o'clock for this, five o'clock for that, six-thirty for change of dress, six-fifty for entering the taxi, and seven o'clock for arriving at the destination.
Every
American
adult
is
arranging
his
time
on
the
pattern
of
the
schoolboy
-
three
o'clock
for
this
,
five
o'clock
for
that
,
six-thirty
for
change
of
dress
,
six-fifty
for
entering
the
taxi
,
and
seven
o'clock
for
arriving
at
the
destination
.
It just makes life not worth living.
It
just
makes
life
not
worth
living
.
Our quarrel with efficiency is not that it gets things done, but that it is a thief of time when it leaves us no leisure to enjoy ourselves, and that it strains our nerves when we try to get things done perfectly. In building bridges, American engineers calculate so finely and exactly as to make the two ends come together within one-tenth of an inch. But when two Chinese begin to dig a tunnel from both sides of a mountain both come out on the other side. -- The Chinese's firm belief is that it doesn't matter so long as a tunnel is dug through, and if we have two instead of one, why, we have a double track to boot.  The pace of modern industrial life forbids this kind of glorious and magnificent idling. But, worse than that, it imposes upon us a different conception of time as measured by the clock and eventually turns the human being into a clock himself. (This sort of thing is bound to come to China, as is evident, for instance, in the case of a factory of twenty thousand worker. The luxurious prospect of twenty thousand workers coming in at their own sweet pleasure at all hours is, of course, somewhat terrifying. ) Nevertheless, such efficiency is what makes life so hard and full of excitement. A man who has to be punctually at a certain place at five o'clock has the whole afternoon from one to five ruined for him already. Every American adult is arranging his time on the pattern of the schoolboy - three o'clock for this, five o'clock for that, six-thirty for change of dress, six-fifty for entering the taxi, and seven o'clock for arriving at the destination. It just makes life not worth living.