---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If labor mainly, or to any considerable…"
description: "\"If labor mainly, or to any considerable degree, serves the purpose of a police, to keep men out of mischief, it indicates a rottenness at the foundatio..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/henry-david-thoreau-20_community_if-labor-mainly-or-to-any-considerable-d_578105.jpg"
---

#  If labor mainly, or to any considerable degree, serves the…

![“If labor mainly, or to any considerable degree, serves the purpose of a police, to keep men out of mischief, it indicates a rottenness at the foundation of our community.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/henry-david-thoreau-20_community_if-labor-mainly-or-to-any-considerable-d_578105.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/henry-david-thoreau-20_community_if-labor-mainly-or-to-any-considerable-d_578105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/henry-david-thoreau-20_community_if-labor-mainly-or-to-any-considerable-d_578105.jpg)

> “If labor mainly, or to any considerable degree, serves the purpose of a police, to keep men out of mischief, it indicates a rottenness at the foundation of our community.”

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

## About This Quote

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

Thoreau argues that if police serve mainly to keep people from mischief, it shows deep moral decay in society.

**In simple terms:** Police focus on control signals societal rot.

Key Takeaway

Address root causes of disorder.

Themes

society morality law enforcement decay justice

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

social philosophical

When to use this quote

- community policing
- social reform
- justice system
- public policy

Key Concepts

social contract ethical foundations

Questions to Reflect On

- What underlying issues cause societal decay?
- How can communities rebuild trust with police?

A Different Perspective

The claim may ignore the protective role of law enforcement.

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[Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mischief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mischief/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/)

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