--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By legend and perhaps by nature…" description: "\"By legend and perhaps by nature philosophers are more accustomed to the armchair than the workbench.\" — Ian Hacking" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/ian-hacking-9085_accustomed_by-legend-and-perhaps-by-nature-philosop_2326880.jpg" --- # By legend and perhaps by nature philosophers are more… ![“By legend and perhaps by nature philosophers are more accustomed to the armchair than the workbench.” quote by Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/ian-hacking-9085_accustomed_by-legend-and-perhaps-by-nature-philosop_2326880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/ian-hacking-9085_accustomed_by-legend-and-perhaps-by-nature-philosop_2326880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/ian-hacking-9085_accustomed_by-legend-and-perhaps-by-nature-philosop_2326880.jpg) > “By legend and perhaps by nature philosophers are more accustomed to the armchair than the workbench.” [Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophers often prefer abstract thinking over practical work, highlighting a cultural divide between theory and application. **In simple terms:** Philosophers like thinking more than doing. Key Takeaway Balance thought with practice. Themes philosophy work theory practice culture Mood analytical critical inquisitive Type academic motivational When to use this quote - academic seminars - research labs - policy making - education reform Key Concepts epistemology labor theory intellectual tradition Questions to Reflect On - Should philosophers engage more in practical work? - How can theory inform practice effectively? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on theory can neglect real-world impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accustomed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accustomed/) [Accustomed Armchair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accustomed-armchair-5582919/) [Armchair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armchair/) [Armchair Workbench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armchair-workbench-5582920/) [Armchairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armchairs/) [Legends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legends/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers/) [Philosophers Accustomed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers-accustomed-5582918/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [Art should be something like a good armchair in which to rest from physical fatigue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/art-should-be-something-like-a-good-armchair-in-which-to-rest-from/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [“The armchairs, with their flat, sedentary cushions, were designed for society, but the bed was made for solitude. It had a straitened and measured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-chaudhuri/the-armchairs-with-their-flat-sedentary-cushions-were-designed-for/) [Amit Chaudhuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-chaudhuri/) > [From a distance, everyone will be able to read text, enlarged and limited to the desired subject, projected on an individual screen. In this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-otlet/from-a-distance-everyone-will-be-able-to-read-text-enlarged-and/) [Paul Otlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-otlet/) > [The painter’s instrument is his armchair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-vuillard/the-painter-s-instrument-is-his-armchair/) [Edouard Vuillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-vuillard/) > [When I paint a woman in an armchair, the armchair is there to show illness and death-or as a protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-paint-a-woman-in-an-armchair-the-armchair-is-there-to-show/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I dream of an art of balance, of quietness, something analogous to a good armchair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/i-dream-of-an-art-of-balance-of-quietness-something-analogous-to-a/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [You can't do business sitting on your ... armchair!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feargal-quinn/you-can-t-do-business-sitting-on-your-armchair/) [Feargal Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feargal-quinn/) > [If rehearsed eye-rolls and sneers and armchair psychology worked, and were interesting, Fox wouldn't be number one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagen-mcdowell/if-rehearsed-eye-rolls-and-sneers-and-armchair-psychology-worked-and/) [Dagen McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagen-mcdowell/) > [“Soapy Sam looked as though he had just sat down on a favourite armchair which had gone missing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/soapy-sam-looked-as-though-he-had-just-sat-down-on-a-favourite/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Breakfast is served on my Herend china and I sit in an old armchair so I can read the papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-michael-of-kent/breakfast-is-served-on-my-herend-china-and-i-sit-in-an-old-armchair/) [Princess Michael of Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-michael-of-kent/) > [“An armchair is always an armchair, to the modern child, never a ship, never a desert island. 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Doing nothing at all counts as an act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hacking/in-each-case-you-settle-on-an-act-doing-nothing-at-all-counts-as-an/) [Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/) > [I think it's unfortunate when people say that there is just one true story of science. 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