More than a beast?

(From The Slovak Spectator)

Byline: Eric Smillie Spectator staff

Slovak Matters ARE HUMANS really any more than animals (zvierata), and do we come closer to perfection (and further from our animal past) as our civilization develops? I thought a new answer to this tired question might be found in the wisdom of the Slovak language, and have conducted a little research from this perspective. Unfortunately, I still cannot make up my mind about this problem and have to admit that I'm a deer on it (som z toho jele"). Perhaps this is an answer in itself. One thing that distinguishes our civilization from the animal world is work. Here we compete, create, and strive for greatness. Though when it comes to work, it's tough to stay motivated, and easy to get distracted when a friend argues, "work isn't a rabbit, it won't run away" (praca nie je zajac, neuteeie). But this expression doesn't tell the whole story. Work may not disappear, but it is difficult to get a grip on, and usually harder to finish than you expect. When people start talking rabbits to you, think to yourself "better a sparrow in the hand than a pigeon on the roof" (lepSi vrabec v hrsti ako holub na streche). If you don't feel like trying to catch a sparrow, and don't intend to climb a ladder to chase a pigeon, you risk being told you're lazy as a flea (lenivy ako voS). Unfortunately, we are not as lucky as insects. When the alarm goes off in the morning, you might want to cling like a bedbug (drzi ako ploStica) to your pillow, but you don't have this luxury. You have no time to wait like a goose for wheat (doekaj easu ako hus klasu) because that wheat will not grow without some effort on your part. And if you are tempted not to work anyway, you will face the accusation "what do you think, that roasted pigeons will fall into your mouth?" (eo si mysliS, ze ti budu pada peeene holuby do huby?). They won't. Our willingness to avoid work seems to discredit it as a guiding principle of humankind. And is it even fair to say that only humans have a work ethic? Animals work hard too, teaches general Slovak knowledge: ...