--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man has important work, and enough…" description: "\"If a man has important work, and enough leisure and income to enable him to do it properly, he is in possession of as much happiness as is good for any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/r-h-tawney-25650_adam_if-a-man-has-important-work-and-enough-l_1145318.jpg" --- # If a man has important work, and enough leisure and income… ![“If a man has important work, and enough leisure and income to enable him to do it properly, he is in possession of as much happiness as is good for any of the children of Adam.” quote by R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/r-h-tawney-25650_adam_if-a-man-has-important-work-and-enough-l_1145318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/r-h-tawney-25650_adam_if-a-man-has-important-work-and-enough-l_1145318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/r-h-tawney-25650_adam_if-a-man-has-important-work-and-enough-l_1145318.jpg) > “If a man has important work, and enough leisure and income to enable him to do it properly, he is in possession of as much happiness as is good for any of the children of Adam.” [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having meaningful work, leisure, and sufficient income yields happiness comparable to any child's innate joy. **In simple terms:** Work, leisure, and income bring deep happiness. Key Takeaway Balance purpose, rest, and resources. Themes purpose happiness economics wellbeing balance Mood content reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - financial budgeting - life satisfaction - family guidance Key Concepts human flourishing social contract labor theory Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your life give you the most joy? - How can you improve balance between work and leisure? A Different Perspective Happiness also depends on health and relationships, not just work and wealth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“if your happiness is linked to this material possession, your happiness is likely going to be temporary as well. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-white/if-your-happiness-is-linked-to-this-material-possession-your/) Amy White > [“We desire some pleasure, and the material means of obtaining it are lacking. “It is a mistake,” Labruyère tells us, “to be in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/we-desire-some-pleasure-and-the-material-means-of-obtaining-it-are-2/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Felicity is in possession, happiness in anticipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-anticipation/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The sooner the world solves its economic problems, the sooner its inhabitants can afford leisure and peace and get on with the non-material things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/the-sooner-the-world-solves-its-economic-problems-the-sooner-its/) [Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/) > [First of all, as a man the most important thing you have in your life now is your child that you're carrying. That's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-houston/first-of-all-as-a-man-the-most-important-thing-you-have-in-your-life/) [Allan Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-houston/) > [At United, they teach me about things off the pitch as well, how to deal with stuff with your family and how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-pereira/at-united-they-teach-me-about-things-off-the-pitch-as-well-how-to/) [Andreas Pereira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-pereira/) > [The real world is simply too terrible to admit. it tells man that he is a small trembling animal who will someday decay and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/the-real-world-is-simply-too-terrible-to-admit-it-tells-man-that-he/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [“He flapped his mouth some more, and then shook himself awake, came to a decision, and starting sneaking huge, theatrical looks around the restaurant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-laurie/he-flapped-his-mouth-some-more-and-then-shook-himself-awake-came-to-a/) [Hugh Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-laurie/) > [“For always remember this friends, that who a man is is always more important to God than what he does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/for-always-remember-this-friends-that-who-a-man-is-is-always-more/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [When one man becomes more important than the country he's supposed to be leading, this will always create a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/when-one-man-becomes-more-important-than-the-country-he-s-supposed-to/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [The manner with which we walk through life is each man's most important responsibility, and we should remember this with every new sunrise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-yellowtail/the-manner-with-which-we-walk-through-life-is-each-man-s-most/) [Thomas Yellowtail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-yellowtail/) > [At the end of the day, who you are as a man is more important than who you are as a football player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-whitworth/at-the-end-of-the-day-who-you-are-as-a-man-is-more-important-than-who/) [Andrew Whitworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-whitworth/) > [It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/it-is-the-message-not-the-man-which-is-important-to-the-sufis/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [After it is all over, the religion of man is his most important possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/after-it-is-all-over-the-religion-of-man-is-his-most-important/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I am not afraid to say my relationship with my man is important, even vital, to who I am as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika-brzezinski/i-am-not-afraid-to-say-my-relationship-with-my-man-is-important-even/) [Mika Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika-brzezinski/) ## More by R. H. Tawney > [It is not till it is discovered that high individual incomes will not purchase the mass of mankind immunity from cholera, typhus, and ignorance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/it-is-not-till-it-is-discovered-that-high-individual-incomes-will-not/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [Private property is a necessary institution, at least in a fallen world; men work more and dispute less when goods are private than when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/private-property-is-a-necessary-institution-at-least-in-a-fallen/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [Clever men are impressed in their differences from their fellows. Wise men are conscious of their resemblance to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/clever-men-are-impressed-in-their-differences-from-their-fellows-wise/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [ Too often, contemning the external order as unspiritual, \[the Puritan\] has made it, and ultimately himself, less spiritual by reason of his contempt. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/too-often-contemning-the-external-order-as-unspiritual-the-puritan/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [A reasonable estimate of economic organisation must allow for the fact that, unless industry is to be paralysed by recurrent revolts on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/a-reasonable-estimate-of-economic-organisation-must-allow-for-the/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [Virtues are often conquered by vices, but their rout is most complete when it is inflicted by other virtues, more militant, more efficient, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/virtues-are-often-conquered-by-vices-but-their-rout-is-most-complete/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [The characteristic virtue of Englishmen is power of sustained practical activity and their characteristic vice a reluctance to test the quality of that activity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/the-characteristic-virtue-of-englishmen-is-power-of-sustained/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [An erring colleague is not an Amalkite to be smitten hip and thigh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/an-erring-colleague-is-not-an-amalkite-to-be-smitten-hip-and-thigh/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [It is probable that democracy owes more to nonconformity than to any other single movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/it-is-probable-that-democracy-owes-more-to-nonconformity-than-to-any/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [By a kind of happy pre-established harmony, such as a later age discovered between the needs of society and the self-interest of the individual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/by-a-kind-of-happy-pre-established-harmony-such-as-a-later-age/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [“Granted, I should love my neighbor as myself, the questions which, under modern conditions of large-scale organization, remain for solution are, ''Who precisely is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/granted-i-should-love-my-neighbor-as-myself-the-questions-which-under/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [...and was disposed too often to idealize as a virtue that habit of mean subservience to wealth and social position which, after more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/and-was-disposed-too-often-to-idealize-as-a-virtue-that-habit-of-mean/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [When men have gone so far as to talk as though their idols have come to life, it is time that someone broke them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/when-men-have-gone-so-far-as-to-talk-as-though-their-idols-have-come/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [One of the main truths of all education is that if the young are not always right, the old are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/one-of-the-main-truths-of-all-education-is-that-if-the-young-are-not/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [Bankruptcies of governments have, on the whole, done less harm to mankind than their ability to raise loans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/bankruptcies-of-governments-have-on-the-whole-done-less-harm-to/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) [Explore all 22 R. H. Tawney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) ## More Adam quotes > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Adam could imagine what he looked like: a debauched nerd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/adam-could-imagine-what-he-looked-like-a-debauched-nerd/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Adam's lips are set in a grime line. I can't tell if he's about to cry or about to punch the guard. For his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/adam-s-lips-are-set-in-a-grime-line-i-can-t-tell-if-he-s-about-to-cry/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/oh-adam-was-a-gardener-and-god-who-made-him-sees-that-half-a-proper/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Barışı elde etmek için çabalayan her adam olağanüstü bir adamdır!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bar-elde-etmek-i-in-abalayan-her-adam-ola-an-st-bir-adamd-r/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) Browse all 1,360 Adam quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a man has important work, and enough leisure and income to enable him to do it properly, he is in possession of as much happiness as is good for any of the children of Adam.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R. 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