Agriculture Quote by Edward Abbey
“The real work of men was hunting meat. The invention of agriculture was a giant step in the wrong direction, leading to serfdom, cities, and empire. From a race of hunters, artists, warriors, and tamers of horses, we degraded ourselves to what we are now: clerks, functionaries, laborers, entertainers, processors of information.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Real Work of Men, 1975
Agriculture shifted humanity from hunting to labor, leading to serfdom, cities, and empire, degrading our original nature.
In simple terms: Farming turned us into workers, losing our hunter‑spirit.
Key Takeaway
Revalue active, creative work.
Themes
civilization
labor
freedom
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- career choices
- recreational pursuits
Key Concepts
anthropology
environmentalism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we blend hunter instincts with modern life?
- What practices revive our creative freedom?
A Different Perspective
Agriculture also enabled food security and societal growth.
![“Ever read any [Friedrich] Hayek? He's great. The Road To Serfdom is like... I'm not a big political-science reader, but I actually dog-eared my copy. I ended up going back through it and writing a précis, I was so impressed by this book. It's all about what happens when government tries to make…” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2be/p-j-o-rourke-184_bigs_ever-read-any-friedrich-hayek-he-s-great_507817.jpg)
