---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is thought to depend on…"
description: "\"Happiness is thought to depend on leisure; for we are busy that we may have leisure, and make war that we may live in peace.\" — Aristotle"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/aristotle-78_busy_happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisur_2082186.png"
---

#  Happiness is thought to depend on leisure; for we are busy…

![“Happiness is thought to depend on leisure; for we are busy that we may have leisure, and make war that we may live in peace.” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/aristotle-78_busy_happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisur_2082186.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/aristotle-78_busy_happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisur_2082186.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/aristotle-78_busy_happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisur_2082186.png)

> “Happiness is thought to depend on leisure; for we are busy that we may have leisure, and make war that we may live in peace.”

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Leisure is essential for happiness; we work to earn leisure and wage war for peace.

**In simple terms:** Leisure brings happiness; work and war aim for it.

Key Takeaway

Value leisure, pursue peace.

Themes

leisure happiness peace war

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- work‑life balance
- career planning
- conflict resolution
- public policy

Key Concepts

ethics political theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you create leisure?
- What sacrifices are needed for peace?

A Different Perspective

Leisure can become a luxury, not a right.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Busy Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-leisure-1678489/) [Depend Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depend-leisure-4071661/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-thought-418242/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Leisure Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure-busy-4071662/) [Live In Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-peace/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Nicomachean ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nicomachean-ethics/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [And this activity alone would seem to be loved for its own sake; for nothing arises from it apart from the contemplating, while from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/and-this-activity-alone-would-seem-to-be-loved-for-its-own-sake-for/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [When people are friends, they have no need of justice, but when they are just, they need friendship in addition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/when-people-are-friends-they-have-no-need-of-justice-but-when-they/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The more we do, the more we can do; the more busy we are, the more leisure we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-we-do-the-more-we-can-do-the-more-busy-we-are-the-more/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is room enough in human life to crowd almost every art and science in it. If we pass ""no day without a line""-visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/there-is-room-enough-in-human-life-to-crowd-almost-every-art-and/)

[William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/)

> [When a man's busy, why leisure Strikes him as wonderful pleasure: 'Faith, and at leisure once is he? Straightway he wants to be busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/when-a-man-s-busy-why-leisure-strikes-him-as-wonderful-pleasure-faith/)

[Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/)

> [Again, it is possible to fail in many ways (for evil belongs to the class of the unlimited and good to that of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/again-it-is-possible-to-fail-in-many-ways-for-evil-belongs-to-the/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [In a word, acts of any kind produce habits or characters of the same kind. Hence we ought to make sure that our acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/in-a-word-acts-of-any-kind-produce-habits-or-characters-of-the-same/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The vices respectively fall short of or exceed what is right in both passions and actions, while virtue both finds and chooses that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-vices-respectively-fall-short-of-or-exceed-what-is-right-in-both/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us; rather we are adapted by nature to receive them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/neither-by-nature-then-nor-contrary-to-nature-do-the-virtues-arise-in/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Everything that depends on the action of nature is by nature as good as it can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/everything-that-depends-on-the-action-of-nature-is-by-nature-as-good/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [It is the mark of an educated man to look for precision in each class of things just so far as the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-the-mark-of-an-educated-man-to-look-for-precision-in-each-class/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [We assume therefore that moral virtue is the quality of acting in the best way in relation to pleasures and pains, and that vice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/we-assume-therefore-that-moral-virtue-is-the-quality-of-acting-in-the/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Where it is in our power to act, it is also in our power to not act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/where-it-is-in-our-power-to-act-it-is-also-in-our-power-to-not-act/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [It is possible to fail in many ways . . . while to succeed is possible only in one way (for which reason also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-possible-to-fail-in-many-ways-while-to-succeed-is-possible-only/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Neither in thy actions be sluggish nor in thy conversation without method, nor wandering in thy thoughts, nor let there be in thy soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/neither-in-thy-actions-be-sluggish-nor-in-thy-conversation-without/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

## More by Aristotle

> [The knowledge of the soul admittedly contributes greatly to the advance of truth in general, and, above all, to our understanding of Nature, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-knowledge-of-the-soul-admittedly-contributes-greatly-to-the/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Young men have strong passions and tend to gratify them indiscriminately. Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The body is at its best between the ages of thirty and thirty-five; the mind is at its best about the age of forty-nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-body-is-at-its-best-between-the-ages-of-thirty-and-thirty-five/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. Now since being alive is spoken of in many ways, even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ensouled-is-distinguished-from-the-unsouled-by-its-being-alive/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Although it may be difficult in theory to know what is just and equal, the practical difficulty of inducing those to forbear who can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/although-it-may-be-difficult-in-theory-to-know-what-is-just-and-equal/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The true forms of government, therefore, are those in which the one, or the few, or the many, govern with a view to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-true-forms-of-government-therefore-are-those-in-which-the-one-or/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [All men by nature desire to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/all-men-by-nature-desire-to-know/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [All persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/all-persons-ought-to-endeavor-to-follow-what-is-right-and-not-what-is/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Give a man a poisoned fish, you feed him for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/give-a-man-a-fish-you-feed-him-for-a-day-give-a-man-a-poisoned-fish/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The man who confers a favour would rather not be repaid in the same coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-man-who-confers-a-favour-would-rather-not-be-repaid-in-the-same/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The mother of revolution and crime is poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-mother-of-revolution-and-crime-is-poverty/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Obstinate people can be divided into the opinionated, the ignorant, and the boorish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/obstinate-people-can-be-divided-into-the-opinionated-the-ignorant-and/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [To learn is a natural pleasure, not confined to philosophers, but common to all men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/to-learn-is-a-natural-pleasure-not-confined-to-philosophers-but/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Every virtue is a mean between two extremes, each of which is a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/every-virtue-is-a-mean-between-two-extremes-each-of-which-is-a-vice/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

[Explore all 1,545 Aristotle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

## More Busy quotes

> [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/)

[Victoria Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-derbyshire/)

> [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/)

[Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/)

> [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/)

[Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/)

> [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/)

[Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/)

[Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/)

> [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/)

[Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/)

[Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/)

> [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/)

[Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/)

> [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/)

[Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/)

> [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/)

[Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/)

> [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/)

[Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/)

> [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/)

[The Shawshank Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-shawshank-redemption/)

[Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Happiness is thought to depend on leisure; for we are busy that we may have leisure, and make war that we may live in peace.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Aristotle"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisure-for-we-are-busy-that-we-may/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Busy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisure-for-we-are-busy-that-we-may/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/aristotle-78_busy_happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisur_2082186.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/aristotle-78_busy_happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisur_2082186.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/aristotle-78_busy_happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisur_2082186.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Happiness is thought to depend on leisure; for we are busy that we may have leisure, and make war that we…” — Aristotle",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Aristotle",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Happiness is thought to depend on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisure-for-we-are-busy-that-we-may/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-is-thought-to-depend-on-leisure-for-we-are-busy-that-we-may/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
