--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would be glorious to see mankind at…" description: "\"It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/henry-david-thoreau-20_glorious_it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-l_387353.jpg" --- # It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once… ![“It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/henry-david-thoreau-20_glorious_it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-l_387353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/henry-david-thoreau-20_glorious_it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-l_387353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/henry-david-thoreau-20_glorious_it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-l_387353.jpg) > “It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.” [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. A critique of relentless labor, urging society to value leisure and simple living over endless work. **In simple terms:** Work dominates life; leisure is rare. Key Takeaway Seek balance, cherish downtime. Themes leisure work society balance Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - personal reflection - urban planning - mental health - policy debate Key Concepts transcendentalism critique of industrialism Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals create leisure in busy lives? - What societal changes would support more free time? A Different Perspective Leisure may be limited by economic necessity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Glorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious/) [Glorious Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious-mankind-3501939/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Leisure Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure-work-2139794/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-leisure-3501938/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Relaxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relaxation/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing one can give an artist is leisure in which to work. To give an artist leisure is actually to take part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-only-thing-one-can-give-an-artist-is-leisure-in-which-to-work-to/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Think of how much time is spent looking and applying for jobs. Some of those who have read my book on the precariat have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/think-of-how-much-time-is-spent-looking-and-applying-for-jobs-some-of/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [Taking photographs is not something that happens only in a moment I press the button. It is a full-time occupation. For me there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/taking-photographs-is-not-something-that-happens-only-in-a-moment-i/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [Leisure, not work, should be our primary goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-gutting/leisure-not-work-should-be-our-primary-goal/) [Gary Gutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-gutting/) > [You can go to doctors until the last cow has been placed in its shed. You can journey the earth in search of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-matthew-adams/you-can-go-to-doctors-until-the-last-cow-has-been-placed-in-its-shed/) [George Matthew Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-matthew-adams/) > [Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to relax, that's active leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-relax-that-s-active-leisure/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [Leisure, the highest happiness upon earth, is seldom enjoyed with perfect satisfaction, except in solitude. Indolence and indifference do not always afford leisure; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/leisure-the-highest-happiness-upon-earth-is-seldom-enjoyed-with/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization, and at present very few people have reached this level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-be-able-to-fill-leisure-intelligently-is-the-last-product-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [We should be able to bring the practice of meditation hall into our daily lives. We need to discuss among ourselves how to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-should-be-able-to-bring-the-practice-of-meditation-hall-into-our/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [For mothers who must earn, there is indeed no leisure time problem. The long hours of earning are increased by the hours of domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-anthony/for-mothers-who-must-earn-there-is-indeed-no-leisure-time-problem-the/) [Katharine Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-anthony/) > [Health requires this relaxation, this aimless life. This life in the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/health-requires-this-relaxation-this-aimless-life-this-life-in-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [English literature is a glorious inheritance which is open to all - there are no barriers, no coupons, and no restrictions. In the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/english-literature-is-a-glorious-inheritance-which-is-open-to-all/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-finest-workers-in-stone-are-not-copper-or-steel-tools-but-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What the banker sighs for, the meanest clown may have-leisure and a quiet mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-the-banker-sighs-for-the-meanest-clown-may-have-leisure-and-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“A man must find his occasions in himself, it is true. The natural day is very calm, and will hardly reprove his indolence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-man-must-find-his-occasions-in-himself-it-is-true-the-natural-day/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## 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 Glorious quotes > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [“What a glorious day !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pancol/what-a-glorious-day/) [Katherine Pancol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pancol/) > [Where did you find that one?" "I have no idea. I'm a magnet for crazies, I guess." "They must be able to sense a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/where-did-you-find-that-one-i-have-no-idea-i-m-a-magnet-for-crazies-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Islam expect every Muslim to do this duty, and if we realise our responsibility time will come soon when we shall justify ourselves worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/islam-expect-every-muslim-to-do-this-duty-and-if-we-realise-our/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) [Christy Nockels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-nockels/) > [“The mountain will not humiliate in any era, and it will remain gloriuos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaran-ihsan-salih/the-mountain-will-not-humiliate-in-any-era-and-it-will-remain-gloriuos/) [Kamaran Ihsan Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaran-ihsan-salih/) > [“Helping undo her Sieve Demi Bra and French Cut Briefs a thural wood patchouli scent spices the air as I am rendered nearly unconscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luca-evola/helping-undo-her-sieve-demi-bra-and-french-cut-briefs-a-thural-wood/) [Luca Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luca-evola/) > [We are about to change history, said Saphira. We’re throwing ourselves off a cliff without knowing how deep the water below is. Ah, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/we-are-about-to-change-history-said-saphira-we-re-throwing-ourselves/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, for he sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/although-we-might-settle-for-less-heavenly-father-won-t-for-he-sees/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [I call on the Iranian people: it is not too late to replace the corrupt regime and return to your glorious Persian heritage, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-call-on-the-iranian-people-it-is-not-too-late-to-replace-the/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [English literature is a glorious inheritance which is open to all - there are no barriers, no coupons, and no restrictions. In the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/english-literature-is-a-glorious-inheritance-which-is-open-to-all/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It was October again ... a glorious October, all red and gold, with mellow mornings when the valleys were filled with delicate mists as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/it-was-october-again-a-glorious-october-all-red-and-gold-with-mellow/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [ \[Motherhood is\] the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It's huge and scary-it's an act of infinite optimism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/motherhood-is-the-biggest-gamble-in-the-world-it-is-the-glorious-life/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) [Browse all 1,372 Glorious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-leisure-for-once-it-is-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Glorious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-leisure-for-once-it-is-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/henry-david-thoreau-20_glorious_it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-l_387353.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/henry-david-thoreau-20_glorious_it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-l_387353.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/henry-david-thoreau-20_glorious_it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-l_387353.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.” — 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 would be glorious to see...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-leisure-for-once-it-is-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-leisure-for-once-it-is-nothing/#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 } } ] } ```