In the 19th century, the Javanese poet Ronggowarsito observed that in the modern age, those who refused to “go mad” would be left behind—ora edan ora keduman. Those who chose to live too plainly, too straightforwardly, risked being marginalized.
The phrase still resonates. To survive in today’s world, modern humans must in a sense “go mad.” From the moment we wake to the moment we sleep, our days are governed by task lists and reminders. Notifications, calendars, and smartwatches discipline us so that not a single moment is wasted.
We work, and then we work some more. The boundary between office hours and private life has blurred, often vanishing entirely. And we do all this not only to make a living, but to be acknowledged—to secure a place in our communities, our companies, our societies.
But does relentless productivity really make life more meaningful? In the past, productivity was measured by sheer quantity. Today, along with greater awareness of life’s essence, productivity also means working with mindfulness, efficiency, and a clear sense of direction.
Modern humans, driven by ambition, often become controlled by that very ambition. They lose self-control. Referring to Stoicism, which teaches the importance of wisdom, self-discipline, and inner tranquility to achieve happiness, humans need to focus on what they can control—such as thoughts and actions—while accepting with grace what lies beyond their control.
Stoic teachings place the boundary of productivity not on physical output, but on how far one lives with awareness, tranquility, and virtue. Stoicism emphasizes the importance of choosing meaningful actions, not merely those that produce results.
On the subject of meaningful work, Hannah Arendt, the German-born philosopher who grew up in the United States, in her book The Human Condition, distinguished between labor (work for survival), work (creating something lasting), and action (revealing who we are). She criticized modern society for being overly focused on productivity and consumption, losing the space for meaningful action.
For Arendt, modern society is too centered on labor and work, neglecting action—which is the essence of being human. In fact, the meaning of life lies in spontaneous actions, filled with freedom, and the ability to shape the social world.
In Arendt’s view, humans must remain attentive to the public realm and their capacity to transform the world through collective action. She reminds us not to drown in production without reflection. Technology may make us efficient, but we still need space to act, interact, and be ourselves.
Amid digital distractions, we must discipline our thoughts, filter information, and focus on what we can truly control—our intentions, ethics, and personal responses to the world.
At the same time, we must realize that humans are not mere working machines, but beings with a spirit, longing for connection with the Divine. Prayer, remembrance, and contemplation provide space to realign the meaning of work: not merely earning a livelihood, but fulfilling trust and worship.
So now is the time to ask: what are we truly chasing while we work?
