Sophocles reminds us that prosperity isn't merely the absence of idleness—it's the absence of *shortcuts*. The deeper truth here is that labour itself becomes the condition for flourishing, not just its vehicle; a person who avoids work doesn't simply fail to accumulate, but fails to develop the character and competence that make genuine success possible. When a student spends weeks procrastinating on a project, she doesn't just miss a deadline; she misses the learning that transforms her thinking, which explains why her hastily-completed work produces anxiety rather than satisfaction. The Sophoclean insight is that what we *make through effort* ultimately makes us.