industria¹

1. Opera (from περᾶν, πράσσειν,) denotes activity without intense exertion, as merely doing, or turning one’s hand to, something, in opp. to momentary inactivity; and also in opp. to thinking, speaking, advising, like ἐργασία; whereas labor denotes strenuous exertion, which is followed by fatigue, labor, in opp. to pleasure, like πόνος. Plaut. Aul. iii. 3. 7. Opera huc est conducta vestra, non oratio: comp. with Bacch. iii. 6, 11. Cic. Rep. i. 9. Otiosiorem opera quam animo. Liv. xxii. 22. Ut opera quoque impensa consilium adjuvem meum. And Liv. v. 4. Labor voluptasque dissimillima natura, societate quadam naturali inter se sunt conjuncta: comp. with Cic. Mur. 35. Plin. Ep. ix. 10. Senec. Tranq. 2. 2. Industria, gnavitas, and sedulitas, denote activity as an habitual quality, in opp. to the love of idleness; industria, of an elevated sort, the impulse to activity that animates the hero or the statesman, in opp. to ignavia, gnavitas (γενναιότης) of a useful sort, the diligence of ordinary men, and of the industrious citizen; sedulitas (sine dolore) an activity that shows itself in small matters, often even of a comic sort, the indefatigable bustling of the busy housewife, of the good-natured nurse, of any one who pays officious court to another. Colum. xii. præf. 8. Ut cum forensibus negotiis matronalis sedulitas industriæ rationem parem faceret. 3. Assiduitas and diligentia denote industry; assiduitas (from sedere) like συνέχεια, more in an extensive sense with continued and uninterrupted efforts; diligentia, (ἀλέγειν) more in an intensive sense, with careful and close application, in order to attain the end of one’s industry. 4. Studium denotes inclination and love towards the object of one’s industry, and an inward impulse. (i. 111.)