--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True Work is the necessity of poor…" description: "\"True Work is the necessity of poor humanity's earthly condition. The dignity is in leisure. Besides, 99 hundredths of all the work done in the world is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/herman-melville-162_conditions_true-work-is-the-necessity-of-poor-human_1385720.jpg" --- # True Work is the necessity of poor humanity's earthly… ![“True Work is the necessity of poor humanity's earthly condition. The dignity is in leisure. Besides, 99 hundredths of all the work done in the world is either foolish and unnecessary, or harmful and wicked.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/herman-melville-162_conditions_true-work-is-the-necessity-of-poor-human_1385720.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/herman-melville-162_conditions_true-work-is-the-necessity-of-poor-human_1385720.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/herman-melville-162_conditions_true-work-is-the-necessity-of-poor-human_1385720.jpg) > “True Work is the necessity of poor humanity's earthly condition. The dignity is in leisure. Besides, 99 hundredths of all the work done in the world is either foolish and unnecessary, or harmful and wicked.” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human labor is often futile; true dignity lies in leisure, while most work is pointless or harmful. **In simple terms:** Work is often useless; leisure gives dignity. Key Takeaway Value leisure over meaningless toil. Themes leisure human condition work critique dignity meaninglessness Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - personal reflection - policy analysis - social critique - ethical decision making Key Concepts existentialism critical theory philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What activities bring you a sense of purpose? - How can society recognize and reward meaningful work? A Different Perspective Not all work is harmful; some is necessary and fulfilling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Privacy is an inherent human right, and a requirement for maintaining the human condition with dignity and respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/privacy-is-an-inherent-human-right-and-a-requirement-for-maintaining/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [Black women . . . work because their husbands can't make enough money at their jobs to keep everything going. . . . They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/black-women-work-because-their-husbands-can-t-make-enough-money-at/) [Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/) > [Work is a necessity for man. Man invented the alarm clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/work-is-a-necessity-for-man-man-invented-the-alarm-clock/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [The greatest antidote in the world for grief is work, and the necessity of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bess-streeter-aldrich/the-greatest-antidote-in-the-world-for-grief-is-work-and-the/) [Bess Streeter Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bess-streeter-aldrich/) > [“Hard work is a necessity of today in order to live a great life tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paras-soni/hard-work-is-a-necessity-of-today-in-order-to-live-a-great-life/) Paras Soni > [Work is as much a necessity to man as eating and sleeping. Even those who do nothing that can be called work still imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/work-is-as-much-a-necessity-to-man-as-eating-and-sleeping-even-those/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the due temperance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-poet-needs-a-ground-in-popular-tradition-on-which-he-may-work-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The true work of art is always on the human scale. It is essentially the one that says, 'less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-true-work-of-art-is-always-on-the-human-scale-it-is-essentially/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The true work of a critic is not to make his hearer believe him, but agree with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-true-work-of-a-critic-is-not-to-make-his-hearer-believe-him-but/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I believe in being true to myself. I believe in being true to my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rekha/i-believe-in-being-true-to-myself-i-believe-in-being-true-to-my-work/) [Rekha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rekha/) > [It is true I work 16 hours a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-chandrababu-naidu/it-is-true-i-work-16-hours-a-day/) [N. Chandrababu Naidu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-chandrababu-naidu/) > [Every true work is not done to the poor. Every true work is done to Me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/every-true-work-is-not-done-to-the-poor-every-true-work-is-done-to-me/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [I love being on Broadway and it's awesome and a dream come true but also it's about the work and making sure you're doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-cephas-jones/i-love-being-on-broadway-and-it-s-awesome-and-a-dream-come-true-but/) [Jasmine Cephas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-cephas-jones/) > [“Dreams come true with much work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/dreams-come-true-with-much-work/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I have always believed in the fact that it's your work that is going to figure out things for you. As long as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barun-sobti/i-have-always-believed-in-the-fact-that-it-s-your-work-that-is-going/) [Barun Sobti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barun-sobti/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Conditions quotes > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. 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We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Experiences in order to be educative must lead out into an expanding world of subject matter, a subject matter of facts or information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/experiences-in-order-to-be-educative-must-lead-out-into-an-expanding/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [A social group can, indeed must, already exercise 'leadership' before winning governmental power (this is indeed one of the principal conditions for the winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/a-social-group-can-indeed-must-already-exercise-leadership-before/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. 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