--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly…" description: "\"“To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly to exlcude yourself from the true enjoyment of it.”\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/henry-david-thoreau-20_philosophical_to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly_1408503.jpg" --- # To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly to exlcude… ![“To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly to exlcude yourself from the true enjoyment of it.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/henry-david-thoreau-20_philosophical_to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly_1408503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/henry-david-thoreau-20_philosophical_to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly_1408503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/henry-david-thoreau-20_philosophical_to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly_1408503.jpg) > ““To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly to exlcude yourself from the true enjoyment of it.”” [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. Exclusive enjoyment often limits true appreciation, as it creates barriers that prevent deeper connection. **In simple terms:** Exclusivity can hinder genuine enjoyment. Key Takeaway Seek inclusive experiences. Themes exclusivity enjoyment connection Mood thoughtful philosophical Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - personal hobbies - social gatherings - cultural experiences Key Concepts philosophy mindfulness balance Questions to Reflect On - How can you broaden your enjoyment? - What does true enjoyment mean to you? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on exclusivity may isolate you. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enjoy Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-thing-1048902/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Exclusively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclusively-433137/) [Exclusively Commonly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclusively-commonly-1048901/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Thing Exclusively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-exclusively-415701/) ## Related quotes > [To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly to exclude yourself from the true enjoyment of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly-to-exclude-yourself-from-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The acquisition of will, for one thing exclusively, presupposes entire acquaintance with many others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-acquisition-of-will-for-one-thing-exclusively-presupposes-entire/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I turned my face more exclusively than ever to the woods, where I was better known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-turned-my-face-more-exclusively-than-ever-to-the-woods-where-i-was/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I eat the way I do because I really enjoy it but also because it's the only thing I've found that helps me manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-woodward/i-eat-the-way-i-do-because-i-really-enjoy-it-but-also-because-it-s/) [Ella Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-woodward/) > [When it rains, nobody hides inside. You just go out and enjoy it. The other thing I remember is begging my grandmother for money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-sterling/when-it-rains-nobody-hides-inside-you-just-go-out-and-enjoy-it-the/) [Raheem Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-sterling/) > [When your friends win tournaments it is good for you in a way because it does fire you up. You see what it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/when-your-friends-win-tournaments-it-is-good-for-you-in-a-way-because/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [If you don't enjoy something you can't keep at it. That's the thing that sticks with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cavendish/if-you-don-t-enjoy-something-you-can-t-keep-at-it-that-s-the-thing/) [Mark Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cavendish/) > [I'm not interested in anything but emotionally driven stories; that's why almost all of my work is exclusively anchored by women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-m-not-interested-in-anything-but-emotionally-driven-stories-that-s/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [My experience of dancing is exclusively at weddings or parties with alcohol involved and in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/my-experience-of-dancing-is-exclusively-at-weddings-or-parties-with/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) > [“Freiheit ist immer die Freiheit des Andersdenkenden Freedom is always, and exclusively, freedom for the one who thinks differently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/freiheit-ist-immer-die-freiheit-des-andersdenkenden-freedom-is-always/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [I'm not exclusively into R&B. I like Usher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-dhupia/i-m-not-exclusively-into-r-b-i-like-usher/) [Neha Dhupia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-dhupia/) > [The assets of the Jewish National Home must be created exclusively through our own work, for only the product of the Hebrew labor can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ben-gurion/the-assets-of-the-jewish-national-home-must-be-created-exclusively/) [David Ben-Gurion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ben-gurion/) > [“All the knowledge I possess every one else can acquire, but my heart is exclusively my own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-the-knowledge-i-possess-every-one-else-can-acquire-but-my-heart/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Science deals exclusively with things as they are in themselves; and art exclusively with things as they affect the human sense and human soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/science-deals-exclusively-with-things-as-they-are-in-themselves-and/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## 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 Enjoyment quotes > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [I filmed my first vlog and I think it worked because I wasn't trying to make it work. I was just doing it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobrik/i-filmed-my-first-vlog-and-i-think-it-worked-because-i-wasn-t-trying/) [David Dobrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobrik/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/love-grows-lust-wastes-by-enjoyment-and-the-reason-is-that-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [Why does a man who is truly in love insist that this relationship must continue and be "lifelong"? Because life is pain and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/why-does-a-man-who-is-truly-in-love-insist-that-this-relationship/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [I think if you're too embroiled in the need to relate too closely to the character, then you start to judge the character for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-if-you-re-too-embroiled-in-the-need-to-relate-too-closely-to/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I'm always very fearful when academics get ahold of comedy. Comedy is such a clear thing - people laugh, or they don't laugh. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/i-m-always-very-fearful-when-academics-get-ahold-of-comedy-comedy-is/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [Joy:show joy & enjoy: then others will be joyful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/joy-show-joy-enjoy-then-others-will-be-joyful/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“...the pleasantness of an employment does not always evince its propriety.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/the-pleasantness-of-an-employment-does-not-always-evince-its-propriety/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Browse all 1,334 Enjoyment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly to exlcude yourself from the true enjoyment of it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly-to-exlcude-yourself-from-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enjoyment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly-to-exlcude-yourself-from-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/henry-david-thoreau-20_philosophical_to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly_1408503.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/henry-david-thoreau-20_philosophical_to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly_1408503.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/henry-david-thoreau-20_philosophical_to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly_1408503.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To enjoy a thing exclusively is commonly to exlcude yourself from the true enjoyment of it.” — 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": "“To enjoy a thing exclusively is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly-to-exlcude-yourself-from-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-enjoy-a-thing-exclusively-is-commonly-to-exlcude-yourself-from-the/#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 } } ] } ```