---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By his very success in inventing…"
description: "\"By his very success in inventing labor-saving devices, modern man has manufactured an abyss of boredom that only the privileged classes in earlier civi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/lewis-mumford-2870_abyss_by-his-very-success-in-inventing-labor-s_86893.png"
---

#  By his very success in inventing labor-saving devices…

![“By his very success in inventing labor-saving devices, modern man has manufactured an abyss of boredom that only the privileged classes in earlier civilizations have ever fathomed.” quote by Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/lewis-mumford-2870_abyss_by-his-very-success-in-inventing-labor-s_86893.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/lewis-mumford-2870_abyss_by-his-very-success-in-inventing-labor-s_86893.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/lewis-mumford-2870_abyss_by-his-very-success-in-inventing-labor-s_86893.png)

> “By his very success in inventing labor-saving devices, modern man has manufactured an abyss of boredom that only the privileged classes in earlier civilizations have ever fathomed.”

[Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/)

## About This Quote

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

Critiques modern convenience for creating a profound emptiness that only historically elite could experience.

**In simple terms:** Technology breeds existential boredom

Key Takeaway

Convenience can detach humanity from purposeful engagement.

Themes

technology modernity alienation leisure

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical observation critique

When to use this quote

- academic lecture on industrialization
- cultural critique article

Key Concepts

labor‑saving devices social class

Practical Applications

- philosophical analysis
- public discourse on work ethic

Questions to Reflect On

- What is the cost of relentless convenience?
- Can boredom be a catalyst for creativity?

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