The significant inscription found on an old key—“If I rest, I rust”—would be an excellent motto for those who are afflicted with the slightest bit of idleness.Even the most industrious person might adopt it with advantage to serve as a reminder that, if one allows his faculties to rest, like the iron in the unused key, they will soon show signs of rust and, ultimately, cannot do the work required of them.
Those who would attain the heights reached and kept by great men must keep their faculties polished by constant use, so that they may unlock the doors of knowledge, the gate that guard the entrances to the professions, to science, art, literature, agriculture-every department of human endeavor.
Industry keeps bright the key that opens the treasury of achievement. If Hugh Miller, after toiling all day in a quarry, had devoted his evenings to rest and recreation, he would never have become a famous geologist.The celebrated mathematician, Edmund Stone, would never have published a mathematical dictionary, never have found the key to science of mathematics, if he had given his spare moments to idleness, had the little Scotch lad, Ferguson, allowed the busy brain to go to sleep while he tended sheep on the hillside instead of calculating the position of the stars by a string of beads, he would never have become a famous astronomer.
Labor vanquishes all-not inconstant, spasmodic, or ill-directed labor；but faithful, unremitting, daily effort toward a well-directed purpose. Just as truly as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, so is eternal industry the price of noble and enduring success.
-inscription [ɪnˈskrɪpʃn]n.铭文，碑文，题字
典型例句
The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.
铭文已磨损，无法辨认了。
联想记忆
inscribe v.题写
-afflict [əˈflɪkt]v.使苦恼，折磨
典型例句
She is afflicted with arthritis.她被关节炎所折磨。
最常用法
afflict with/by 受……折磨
联想记忆
affliction n.疼痛，折磨
relieve v.使轻松（宽慰），缓解
-industrious [ɪnˈdʌstrɪəs]adj.勤劳的，勤奋的，勤勉的
典型例句
He is industrious about his study.他勤奋学习。
联想记忆
hard-working adj.刻苦的
diligent adj.勤勉的，勤奋的
-faculty [ˈfækltɪ]n.能力；教员
典型例句
He has the faculty for making friends.他有交际能力。
最常用法
faculty of/for doing sth.有做某事的能力
联想记忆
ability n.能力，本领
capacity n.才能，能力
-endeavor [enˈdevə]n.努力，尽力
典型例句
Thereupon, we knew, our endeavor was valuable.
于是，我们知道，我们的努力是有价值的！
最常用法
endeavour to do sth.尽力做某事
联想记忆
effort n.努力，尝试
-toil [tɔɪl]v.辛苦从事
典型例句
We toiled away all afternoon to get the house ready for our guests.
我们忙了一下午收拾房子准备迎接宾客。
最常用法
toil away 长期劳累
toil through 吃力
联想记忆
work v.工作
-quarry [ˈkwɔrɪ]n.采石场
典型例句
This mountain was the site for a quarry.
这座山曾是一个采石场。
-vanquish [ˈvæŋkwɪʃ]v.征服，击溃
典型例句
His success vanquish his fears.
他的成功压抑了他害怕的心理。
联想记忆
conquer v.征服，克服
-spasmodic [spæzˈmɔdɪk]adj.间歇性的
典型例句
My husband’s work was so spasmodic.
我丈夫的工作总是时忙时闲。
-.unremitting [ˌʌnrɪˈmɪtɪŋ]adj.不停止的，不间断的
典型例句
He watched her with unremitting attention.
他一直全神贯注地注视着她。
-.eternal [ɪˈtɜːnl]adj.永久的，无休止的，永恒的
典型例句
I am tired of your eternal arguments.
我讨厌你那没完没了的争论。
最常用法
the eternal triangle 三角恋爱
the eternal verities 基本的道德准则；永恒的真理
联想记忆
forever adv.永远
continual adj.不停的
-.vigilance [ˈvɪdʒɪləns]n.警惕，警戒
典型例句
Never relax your vigilance while you live in peace.
你们要居安思危。
联想记忆
vigilant adj.机警的
在一把旧钥匙上发现了一则意味深远的铭文——如果我休息，我就会生锈。对于那些为懒散而苦恼的人来说，这将是至理名言。甚至最为勤勉的人也可以此为警示。如果一个人有才而不用，就像废弃钥匙的铁一样，这些才能很快就会生锈，并最终无法完成安排给自己的工作。
有些人想取得伟人所获得并保持的成就，他们就必须通过不断运用自身才能，以便开启那些通过人类努力探求的各个领域的知识的大门，包括有科学、艺术、文学、农业等。
勤奋使开启成功宝库的钥匙保持光亮。休·米勒如果在采石厂劳作一天后，晚上的时光用来休息消遣的话，他就不会成为名垂青史的地质学家。著名数学家爱德蒙·斯通如果闲暇时无所事事，就不会出版数学词典，也不会发现开启数学之门的钥匙。如果苏格兰青年弗格森在山坡上放羊时，让自己那思维活跃的大脑处于休息状态，而不是借助一串珠子计算星星的位置，他就不会成为著名的天文学家。
劳动征服一切。这里所指的劳动不是断断续续的，间歇性的或方向偏差的劳动，而是坚定的、不懈的、方向正确的每日劳动。正如要想拥有自由就必须时刻警惕一样，要想取得伟大的、持久的成功，就必须要坚持不懈地努力。