"It is work, work that one delights in, that is the surest guarantor of happiness. But even here it is a work that has to be earned by labor in one's earlier years. One should labor so hard in youth that everything one does subsequently is easy by comparison"

This quote by Ashley Montagu talks to the idea that hard work is the crucial to joy. He recommends that in order to be really delighted, one must work hard in their youth, so that whatever else they do in life is easy by comparison. Montagu is emphasizing the importance of putting in the effort and dedication in the early years of life, so that the benefits of happiness can be reaped later on. He is recommending that it is not just the work itself that brings joy, but the fulfillment of understanding that the hard work has actually settled. Montagu is likewise suggesting that the work ought to be something that a person enjoys, as this will make the labor more rewarding. Ultimately, Montagu is advocating for the concept that hard work and devotion in the early years of life will bring about the greatest rewards of joy.