Meaning of “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to…”

Poor Richard’s Almanack; proverb on routine, work and practical discipline.

The Art of Money Getting, in Barnum’s discussion of thorough work and business effort.

The Master-Word in Medicine, address delivered October 1, 1903 at the opening of the new buildings of the University of Toronto Medical Faculty; reviewed against the represented 1903 John Murphy pamphlet, Internet Archive identifier b28060805. ‘The master-word is Work’ is Osler’s organizing refrain and is followed by his appeal to write the word on the heart and forehead. This remains historical professional rhetoric rather than an endorsement of unsafe working hours or workaholism.

Poor Richard’s Almanack.

Poor Richard’s Almanack; the maxim appears in Franklin’s collected Poor Richard material.

Information to Those Who Would Remove to America, before March 1784; Founders Online. The lowercase opening is retained because this is a clause from Franklin’s longer sentence about strangers, law, liberty and industry.