подскажите пожалуйста

[Доброгнева]

Как перевести следующее предложение? Помогите голова уже не работает. The meager legitimacy and value accorded to work was given to it, not because it had any value in itself, but because it was a necessary evil.
Контекст такой:
The ancient Greeks thought of work and commerce as demeaning to a citizen. At best, it was a burden required for survival. The meager legitimacy and value accorded to work was given to it, not because it had any value in itself, but because it was a necessary evil. There are two limitations to our knowledge of ancient attitudes toward work.