When I ply the cutlass and make the equivalent of sixpence, idiot conscience applauds me. But if I sit in the house and make twenty pounds by writing, idiot conscience wails over my neglect and the day wasted. No, to come down covered with mud and drenched with sweat and rain after some hours in the bush. To change, rub down, and take a chair in the verandah, that makes for a quiet conscience.
The quote from Matthew Pearl's "The Last Bookaneer" reflects the tension between labor and the perception of worthiness associated with different types of work. The speaker feels a sense of moral approval, or satisfaction, when engaging in physically demanding tasks, despite the modest financial gain of only sixpence. In contrast, when the same individual earns a more substantial sum of twenty pounds through writing, they feel guilt and disappointment for not being active and productive in a more traditional sense of labor.
This internal conflict illustrates how societal values can influence personal feelings of accomplishment. The speaker finds solace in exerting themselves physically, as it aligns with their understanding of a "true" day's work, leading to a sense of peace after a long, hard day. This passage emphasizes the disparity between intellectual work versus manual work, suggesting that societal norms often dictate what is considered valuable, affecting one's self-perception and emotional response.
