Next time a lad you know complains of boredom with
their school-work (or some such) remember this anecdote from a former American president John Adam, and then seek to apply it (appropriately) to
their situation.
As a boy, John Adams found the study of Latin to
be boring and grew to hate it. He went to his father to see if there was not
something else he could do instead. Deacon John, who had been a labourer, told
his son, ‘You might try ditching; my meadow yonder needs a ditch.’ So young
John went about the task of digging the ditch and soon found it to be arduous
work. By the end of the day, he was ready to return to the study of Latin; but
being too proud to admit it, he spent one more day in digging the ditch before
admitting he preferred the study of Latin. Adams said ‘toil conquered my pride’
and ever after claimed ‘ditching’ had played an important part in building his
character.”
– Paul Boller, Presidential Anecdotes.
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