Early rising may not be a vice : but it is certainly no virtue. The old saw about the early bird just goes to show that the worm should have stayed in bed.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Heinlein mocks the cliché that early rising is virtuous, suggesting instead that it is merely inconvenient for the prey.
- In plain terms
- Getting up early is not a good trait, and the saying about the early bird only highlights the downside for the worm.
- What can you take from it?
- Question common sayings that praise habits without considering who benefits.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What common habits are praised without evidence?
- Who actually benefits from standard advice?
Another view
The joke relies on a literal interpretation of a metaphor and dismisses potential benefits of early rising.
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