Capacity Quote by Allan Bloom
“As Western nations became more prosperous, leisure, which had been put off for several centuries in favor of the pursuit of property, the means to leisure, finally began to be of primary concern. But, in the meantime, any notion of the serious life of leisure, as well as men's taste and capacity to live it, had disappeared.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Closing of the American Mind, 1987
Prosperity shifted focus to leisure, but without a serious approach, leisure becomes superficial and lacks depth.
In simple terms: Wealth led to shallow leisure without purpose.
Seek meaningful engagement beyond mere relaxation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education
- work-life balance
- consumer habits
- public policy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leisure be purposeful?
- What values should guide our free time?
Leisure can become escapism if not purposeful.