Work as though you would live forever, and live as though you
Work as though you would live forever, and live as though you would die today. Go another mile!
Hear, O seekers of truth, the immortal counsel of Og Mandino, who said: “Work as though you would live forever, and live as though you would die today. Go another mile!” In this utterance, two rivers of wisdom meet: the discipline of work and the urgency of life. He calls us to balance labor and joy, toil and presence, striving for eternity yet dwelling in the fleeting hour.
To work as though you would live forever is to give each task diligence, patience, and endurance. It is to plant trees whose shade you may never sit beneath, to build foundations deep and strong, as though your time were endless. For true work is not rushed, nor careless, but shaped with the thought of generations yet unborn. Mandino reminds us that labor done with eternity in mind bears fruit that will not wither.
Yet he also commands: live as though you would die today. This is the wisdom of urgency, the call to taste the sweetness of the present moment. For tomorrow is not promised, and the breath within the chest is but a fragile flame. To live thus is to forgive swiftly, to love boldly, to speak what must be spoken before the sun sets. Life, in its brevity, becomes rich when embraced without delay.
Finally, his cry is this: Go another mile! Do more than is asked, give more than is expected, rise beyond the boundary of comfort. For the soul grows not in ease, but in the extra step, the unrequired offering, the sacrifice that transforms duty into greatness. This is the path of those who would leave behind not only memories, but legacies.
Therefore, let this wisdom be inscribed upon your heart: work for eternity, live for today, and go beyond. In these three commands lies the fullness of the human calling, a guide for those who would labor, rejoice, and transcend. Would you like me to recast this into a proverbial, scripture-like cadence, as if it were carved upon the stones of an ancient temple?
LDLe det
The quote by Og Mandino is definitely thought-provoking. It pushes us to go beyond our limits, to work as if we have all the time in the world but live with the awareness that life is short. But does it ever lead to feeling overwhelmed? If we try to live with both mindsets, could it be exhausting to constantly ‘go another mile’? Maybe the message is really about perseverance, but it makes me think about the importance of taking moments to rest and recharge.
TNPi Nang Thi Nguyet
Mandino’s perspective sounds like a call to live with purpose and vigor. It encourages us to give our all in everything we do and to appreciate the present. But in our busy world, can we really live as though we might die today? I wonder, do we end up taking more risks or making more impulsive decisions when we adopt that mindset? Is there a danger in living with too much urgency without considering long-term consequences?
LNthuy linh nguyen
This quote is motivating, but it also makes me question the pressure it might create. It suggests that we should always be striving, pushing further, and living life to the fullest. But is it realistic or sustainable to live with that level of intensity all the time? Sometimes, it feels like a lot of people end up exhausting themselves, and the message could be taken to extremes. Shouldn’t there be room for balance, too?
PTNguyen Phuong Thuy
Og Mandino’s quote really challenges the way we approach both work and life. It’s inspiring to think about working with the intensity of someone who has all the time in the world, while also living with the urgency of knowing time is limited. But how do we balance this? Can we truly live every day with this mindset without burning out? Is there a way to keep pushing forward without losing sight of our well-being?