How easy it is to push away all those wild, outside thoughts and find perfect rest and calm right now!
How easy a thing is it for a man to put off from him all turbulent adventitious imaginations, and presently to be in perfect rest and tranquillity!
You need rest, yes. Nature allows for that, just like eating and drinking. But you go beyond what you need. You take more rest than necessary. Yet when it comes to action, you fall short of what you could do. This shows you don't really love yourself. If you did, you would also love your nature and what it's meant to achieve. Look at others who love their work. They wear themselves out at it. They skip meals and lose sleep for their craft. Do you honor your nature less than a craftsman honors his trade? Less than a dancer honors his art? Less than a greedy man loves his money, or a proud man loves praise? When people care deeply about something, they're willing to go without food and sleep to pursue it. So why do actions that serve the common good seem less worthy to you? Why do they deserve less effort and attention?
'But thou must have some rest.' Yes, thou must. Nature hath of that also, as well as of eating and drinking, allowed thee a certain stint. But thou guest beyond thy stint, and beyond that which would suffice, and in matter of action, there thou comest short of that which thou mayest. It must needs be therefore, that thou dost not love thyself, for if thou didst, thou wouldst also love thy nature, and that which thy nature doth propose unto herself as her end. Others, as many as take pleasure in their trade and profession, can even pine themselves at their works, and neglect their bodies and their food for it; and doest thou less honour thy nature, than an ordinary mechanic his trade; or a good dancer his art? than a covetous man his silver, and vainglorious man applause? These to whatsoever they take an affection, can be content to want their meat and sleep, to further that every one which he affects: and shall actions tending to the common good of human society, seem more vile unto thee, or worthy of less respect and intention?