Laziness Does Not Exist

Price identifies the Puritan work ethic as a significant historical root of what he terms the “Laziness Lie.” The Puritans, who arrived in Colonial America in the 17th century, brought with them a religious ideology that valued hard work. The Puritans believed that diligent labor was not just economically necessary, but spiritually significant. They viewed work as a way to glorify and worship God and believed that success in labor was evidence of their predestination for salvation. Conversely, they viewed idleness or lack of productivity as a sign of moral and spiritual failing.

Price argues that this belief system laid the groundwork for the American cultural emphasis on industriousness and self-reliance. The Puritan work ethic contributed to the development of the idea that hard work invariably leads to success and that those who struggle economically must be lazy or morally deficient. According to Price, this historical legacy continues to influence modern American attitudes toward work and productivity. The Puritan work ethic evolved into the broader concept of the “Protestant work ethic,” which has been secularized but still permeates American culture. This mentality underpins the “Laziness Lie” by promoting the belief that constant productivity is morally superior to rest or leisure and that a person’s worth is determined by their output.