---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every game ever invented by mankind, is a…"
description: "\"Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the fun of it!\" — John Ciardi"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/john-ciardi-10262_fun_every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a_1795252.png"
---

#  Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making…

![“Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the fun of it!” quote by John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/john-ciardi-10262_fun_every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a_1795252.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/john-ciardi-10262_fun_every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a_1795252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/john-ciardi-10262_fun_every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a_1795252.png)

> “Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the fun of it!”

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Games are designed to make challenges harder for the sake of enjoyment.

**In simple terms:** Games make things harder for fun.

Key Takeaway

Embrace challenge as enjoyment.

Themes

games challenge fun

Mood

playful enthusiastic

Type

poetic inspirational

When to use this quote

- Board games
- video games
- sports
- puzzles
- educational games

Key Concepts

Game design human motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we enjoy difficulty?
- How can challenges stay fun?

A Different Perspective

Excessive difficulty can deter participation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Game Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-invented-965539/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-fun-429110/) [Invented Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-mankind-1981910/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [If the game was invented I would kill for the first copy like a Lamborghini beating a bugatii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-game-was-invented-i-would-kill-for-the-first-copy-like-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [God invented mankind because he loved silly stories. Ralph Steadman I like being absurd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/god-invented-mankind-because-he-loved-silly-stories-ralph-steadman-i/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [“Before the telescope and the microscope were invented the mankind was wearing blinkers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-z-riffi/before-the-telescope-and-the-microscope-were-invented-the-mankind-was/)

[M.Z.Riffi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-z-riffi/)

> [European democracy, for me, is the best form of government invented by mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petro-poroshenko/european-democracy-for-me-is-the-best-form-of-government-invented-by/)

[Petro Poroshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petro-poroshenko/)

> [God invented mankind because he loved silly stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-steadman/god-invented-mankind-because-he-loved-silly-stories/)

[Ralph Steadman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-steadman/)

> [Work hard, have fun and make history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/work-hard-have-fun-and-make-history/)

[Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/)

> [Remember these two things: play hard and have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gwynn/remember-these-two-things-play-hard-and-have-fun/)

[Tony Gwynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gwynn/)

> [We don't really know how the game was invented, though there are suspicions. As soon as we discover the culprits, we'll let you know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pandolfini/we-don-t-really-know-how-the-game-was-invented-though-there-are/)

[Bruce Pandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pandolfini/)

> [My favorite game was one I invented with my cousins called Mean Aunt Rosie, where I was a deranged maiden aunt who chased them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/my-favorite-game-was-one-i-invented-with-my-cousins-called-mean-aunt/)

[Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/)

> [We play a game called, 'Peru ball,' it's a game we invented in Peru. The rules are so simple. You play with a football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/we-play-a-game-called-peru-ball-it-s-a-game-we-invented-in-peru-the/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [The sport was right in the center of these changing social dynamics. It was a game invented by blue-collar people in Scotland but adopted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-frost/the-sport-was-right-in-the-center-of-these-changing-social-dynamics/)

[Mark Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-frost/)

> [Tennis was a game invented by a woman named Samantha Tennis in 1839, in the village of Lobsworth, County of Kent, as a diversion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/tennis-was-a-game-invented-by-a-woman-named-samantha-tennis-in-1839/)

[Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/)

> [Reflecting an amalgam of economics, monetary, and psychological factors, the stock market represents possibly the most subtly intricate game invented by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-arnold-epstein/reflecting-an-amalgam-of-economics-monetary-and-psychological-factors/)

[Richard Arnold Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-arnold-epstein/)

> [Golf is a game invented by the same people who think music comes out of a bagpipe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/golf-is-a-game-invented-by-the-same-people-who-think-music-comes-out/)

[Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/)

> [Working hard is not always fun - that's why it is called work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/working-hard-is-not-always-fun-that-s-why-it-is-called-work/)

[Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/)

## More by John Ciardi

> [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/modern-art-is-what-happens-when-painters-stop-looking-at-girls-and/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [The day will happen whether or not you get up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-day-will-happen-whether-or-not-you-get-up/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [But when the pen is in his hand he has to write by itch and twitch, though certainly his itch and twitch are intimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/but-when-the-pen-is-in-his-hand-he-has-to-write-by-itch-and-twitch/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Who could believe an ant in theory? A giraffe in blueprint? Ten thousand doctors of what's possible Could reason half the jungle out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/who-could-believe-an-ant-in-theory-a-giraffe-in-blueprint-ten/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [“There was a young lady from Gloucester Who complained that her parents both bossed her, So she ran off to Maine. Did her parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/there-was-a-young-lady-from-gloucester-who-complained-that-her/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [One night I dreamed I was locked in my Father's watch With Ptolemy and twenty-one ruby stars Mounted on spheres and the Primum Mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/one-night-i-dreamed-i-was-locked-in-my-father-s-watch-with-ptolemy/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/gentility-is-what-is-left-over-from-rich-ancestors-after-the-money-is/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-classroom-should-be-an-entrance-into-the-world-not-an-escape-from/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Boys are the cash of war. Whoever said: we're not free spenders- doesn't know our like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/boys-are-the-cash-of-war-whoever-said-we-re-not-free-spenders-doesn-t/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [“Hell is the denial of the ordinary...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/hell-is-the-denial-of-the-ordinary/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [General rules have been legislated into being by past masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/general-rules-have-been-legislated-into-being-by-past-masters/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/written-by-a-sponge-dipped-in-warm-milk-and-sprinkled-with-sugar/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation of the middle-aged, and the mutual dependence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/love-is-the-word-used-to-label-the-sexual-excitement-of-the-young-the/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [A man is what he does with his attention and mine is not for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/a-man-is-what-he-does-with-his-attention-and-mine-is-not-for-sale/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

[Explore all 67 John Ciardi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

## More Fun quotes

> [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/)

[Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/)

> [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/)

[Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/)

> [I enjoy upsetting the right people. I love poking fun at earnest censors. I want to push the bounds of what can be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/i-enjoy-upsetting-the-right-people-i-love-poking-fun-at-earnest/)

[Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/)

> [I really like John McCain. He's an awesome dude and was a lot of fun when he hosted "SNL." I'd love to see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-really-like-john-mccain-he-s-an-awesome-dude-and-was-a-lot-of-fun/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/)

[Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/)

> [I guess I'm attracted to things that are fun. I guess what is fun about this role in 'Suburgatory' is that there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-fun-i-guess-what-is-fun/)

[Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/)

> [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/)

[Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

> [I can't imagine not working, really. I just think work's more fun than fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-quant/i-can-t-imagine-not-working-really-i-just-think-work-s-more-fun-than/)

[Mary Quant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-quant/)

> [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/)

[Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/)

> [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/)

[Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/)

> [It's great when you can write a meaningful song that touches people, but sometimes you just wanna have fun and sing a silly song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/it-s-great-when-you-can-write-a-meaningful-song-that-touches-people/)

[Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/)

> [I loved duping my parents; I liked manipulating them. It was a way for me to stand out. It was fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-loved-duping-my-parents-i-liked-manipulating-them-it-was-a-way-for/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

[Browse all 15,947 Fun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the fun of it!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Ciardi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a-way-of-making-things-hard/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fun"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a-way-of-making-things-hard/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/john-ciardi-10262_fun_every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a_1795252.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/john-ciardi-10262_fun_every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a_1795252.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/john-ciardi-10262_fun_every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a_1795252.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the fun of it!” — John Ciardi",
                "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": "John Ciardi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Every game ever invented by mankind,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a-way-of-making-things-hard/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/every-game-ever-invented-by-mankind-is-a-way-of-making-things-hard/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
