It's very important to like the people you work with. Otherwise

The words of Elon Musk—“It’s very important to like the people you work with. Otherwise, your job is going to be quite miserable.”—shine like a beacon in an age when labor is often measured by profit and output alone. In these words lies an ancient truth: that man is not fashioned to toil as a beast of burden, but as a being of fellowship, whose spirit thrives when bound together with others in mutual respect and harmony. For what is work if not the weaving of lives toward a common purpose? And what is that weaving worth if each thread grates and tears against the other?

The ancients knew that the strength of a community was not found in the might of its walls or the size of its armies, but in the unity of its people. To stand beside one whom you respect, whose presence kindles joy, makes the labor of the day light upon your shoulders. But to be bound to one you despise, or to dwell in discord, is to carry twice the weight and reap only bitterness. Thus Musk speaks as a modern echo of timeless wisdom: that liking the people you work with is not a luxury, but a foundation for endurance.

History offers us a vivid illustration. When Ernest Shackleton led his crew on the ill-fated Antarctic expedition of the Endurance, their ship was crushed by ice and their lives hung by a thread. Yet they survived nearly two years in the most hostile conditions on Earth. How? Not merely by rations or skill, but by the bonds of fellowship Shackleton cultivated among his men. He sang with them, shared their suffering, and inspired loyalty through care. Even in misery, they found courage in one another. Their survival was a testament to the truth that liking the people you work with transforms hardship into endurance and despair into hope.

In contrast, think of the countless empires undone not by enemies, but by strife within. The Roman legions, once unmatched, decayed when their unity faltered, when mistrust and rivalry spread like rot among their ranks. The same sword that once conquered the world grew dull when wielded by divided hands. Thus we see the other side of Musk’s teaching: when there is no fellowship, no mutual regard, then even the noblest labor becomes miserable, even ruinous.

The meaning of this wisdom is not confined to kings, captains, or inventors. It reaches into every workshop, every office, every humble space where men and women gather to strive together. If you despise those beside you, your days will drag like chains. But if you can find joy in their company, if you cultivate goodwill, laughter, and trust, then even the most grueling task may feel light. Work, then, is not merely the shaping of stone or steel or code—it is the shaping of relationships, without which all other labor collapses.

For us, the lesson is practical and urgent: choose your companions wisely, and where choice is not given, labor to build respect and kindness with those around you. Do not neglect the small gestures of fellowship—a word of praise, a listening ear, a shared burden—for these are the stones upon which harmony is built. If discord arises, confront it with honesty before it festers. If joy arises, nurture it, for it will multiply. Just as a single spark can kindle a great flame, so too can one act of goodwill transform the spirit of a team.

Therefore, let us pass this teaching to all who labor: the wealth of a job is not measured only in wages, but in the company of those who walk beside you. To like the people you work with is to make the hours sweet and the burdens bearable. To despise them is to turn every day into drudgery, no matter the gold earned. So cultivate fellowship, nurture respect, and build harmony, for these are the unseen treasures that make work not misery, but meaning.

Thus hear the wisdom: your toil will shape your livelihood, but your companions will shape your soul. Choose well, or build well, the circle of those you labor with. For in the end, it is not only the work that matters—it is the fellowship that makes the work endurable, even joyful.