--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is remarkable that there are few men…" description: "\"It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed, so much to their minds, but that a little money or fame would commonly buy them off from thei..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/henry-david-thoreau-20_employed_it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men_1744865.jpg" --- # It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed… ![“It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed, so much to their minds, but that a little money or fame would commonly buy them off from their present pursuit.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/henry-david-thoreau-20_employed_it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men_1744865.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/henry-david-thoreau-20_employed_it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men_1744865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/henry-david-thoreau-20_employed_it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men_1744865.jpg) > “It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed, so much to their minds, but that a little money or fame would commonly buy them off from their present pursuit.” [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. Many intellectuals are easily swayed by money or fame, abandoning their true pursuits despite deep mental engagement. **In simple terms:** Money and fame can distract from genuine passions. Key Takeaway Guard your work against superficial temptations. Themes integrity distraction materialism focus Mood thoughtful determined inspirational Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - career planning - academic research - artistic creation - entrepreneurship Key Concepts philosophy ethics personal development Questions to Reflect On - What core values keep you grounded? - How do you balance ambition with authenticity? A Different Perspective Not all distractions are harmful; some provide resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Commonly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-commonly-1552339/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Little money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-money/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-employed-1552337/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-fame-397229/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Remarkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remarkable/) [Remarkable Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remarkable-men-1552338/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Literary men are being employed to praise a big business man personally, as men used to praise a king. They not only find political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/literary-men-are-being-employed-to-praise-a-big-business-man/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [When men are employed they are best contented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/when-men-are-employed-they-are-best-contented/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [ When the history of this period is written, \[William Jennings\] Bryan will stand out as one of the most remarkable men of his generation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/when-the-history-of-this-period-is-written-william-jennings-bryan/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Two remarkable men -- one young, one old -- fuel each other's spirits in the beautiful documentary Keep On Keepin' On.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-maltin/two-remarkable-men-one-young-one-old-fuel-each-other-s-spirits-in-the/) [Leonard Maltin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-maltin/) > [Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/rather-than-love-than-money-than-fame-give-me-truth/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If I choose to devote myself to certain labors which yield more real profit, though but little money, they may be inclined to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-i-choose-to-devote-myself-to-certain-labors-which-yield-more-real/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [And if the civilized man's pursuits are no worthier than the savage's, if he is employed the greater part of his life in obtaininggross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/and-if-the-civilized-man-s-pursuits-are-no-worthier-than-the-savage-s/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“I do not speak to those who are well employed, in whatever circumstances, and they know whether they are well employed or not;—but mainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-do-not-speak-to-those-who-are-well-employed-in-whatever/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The better part of the man is soon ploughed into the soil for compost. By a seeming fate, commonly called necessity, they are employed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-better-part-of-the-man-is-soon-ploughed-into-the-soil-for-compost/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It is remarkable that among all the preachers there are so few moral teachers. The prophets are employed in excusing the ways of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-remarkable-that-among-all-the-preachers-there-are-so-few-moral/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A lot of celebrities just want money, fame, power, fancy cars, houses all over the world and have people BOW DOWN to them. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/a-lot-of-celebrities-just-want-money-fame-power-fancy-cars-houses-all/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [All the money and the fame ... Dont change the fact that you Lame!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/all-the-money-and-the-fame-dont-change-the-fact-that-you-lame/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [Girl I'm so wrong. Fuck the money and the fame because that shit don't mean a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jmsn/girl-i-m-so-wrong-fuck-the-money-and-the-fame-because-that-shit-don-t/) [JMSN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jmsn/) > [If you're a generous person, when you get money and fame, you're going to be more generous. If you're a sharer, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/if-you-re-a-generous-person-when-you-get-money-and-fame-you-re-going/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Employed quotes > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [Over the past 50 years Bob Hope employed 88 joke writers who supplied him with more than one million gags, and he still couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/over-the-past-50-years-bob-hope-employed-88-joke-writers-who-supplied/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Oh yeah, I'm still employed at Pixar and I love it here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-bird/oh-yeah-i-m-still-employed-at-pixar-and-i-love-it-here/) [Brad Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-bird/) > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Words should be employed as the means, not the end; language is the instrument, conviction is the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/words-should-be-employed-as-the-means-not-the-end-language-is-the/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [All forces are a deterrent to and would be employed in a general war. Most of our forces could be employed in a limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-gates-jr/all-forces-are-a-deterrent-to-and-would-be-employed-in-a-general-war/) [Thomas S. Gates Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-gates-jr/) > [The law increasing and organizing the military establishment of the United States has been nearly carried into effect, and the Army has been extensively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/the-law-increasing-and-organizing-the-military-establishment-of-the/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [Though liberty is established by law, we must be vigilant, for liberty to enslave us is always present under that very liberty. Our Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/though-liberty-is-established-by-law-we-must-be-vigilant-for-liberty/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I think we should all hope for a Russia that is successful, where its people are employed and the economy is growing and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-should-all-hope-for-a-russia-that-is-successful-where-its/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [(Whispered to a novice while standing in front of the convent library) Oh! I would have been sorry to have read all those books...If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/whispered-to-a-novice-while-standing-in-front-of-the-convent-library/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [The rule for effective governance is simple. It is one Ronald Reagan knew by heart. And one that he successfully employed with Social Security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/the-rule-for-effective-governance-is-simple-it-is-one-ronald-reagan/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [The man who would be fully employed should procure a ship or a woman, for no two things produce more trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/the-man-who-would-be-fully-employed-should-procure-a-ship-or-a-woman/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) [Browse all 606 Employed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed, so much to their minds, but that a little money or fame would commonly buy them off from their present pursuit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men-so-well-employed-so-much-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Employed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men-so-well-employed-so-much-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/henry-david-thoreau-20_employed_it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men_1744865.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/henry-david-thoreau-20_employed_it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men_1744865.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/henry-david-thoreau-20_employed_it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men_1744865.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed, so much to their minds, but that a little money or…” — Henry David Thoreau", "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": "Henry David Thoreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is remarkable that there are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men-so-well-employed-so-much-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-remarkable-that-there-are-few-men-so-well-employed-so-much-to/#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 } } ] } ```