Accomplish something…and then sleep peacefully.
I found the following verses of Arabic poetry an important reminder to myself. The following is the translation, unfortunately I don’t have the original Arabic to post yet.
Who goes after honor, he sacrifices his rights;
Proportionate to the work invested, reward will come.
Accomplish something, and then sleep peacefully;
If you search for a pearl, dive deeply.
Honor and praise are in work and will,
strength and firmness in sacrificing nights.
Who thinks that praise will come without effort,
he lives his life in vain.
I’ve turned my nights into lively days,
in order to realize my dream.
Help me my Lord, accept my prayer,
to accomplish the highest goal through obtaining knowledge.
Taken from Al-Zarnuji: Guide to a Student on the Path of Acquiring Knowledge