--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A conclusion I’ve come to at the Idler is…" description: "\"A conclusion I’ve come to at the Idler is that it starts with retreating from work but it’s really about making work into something that isn’t drudgery..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/tom-hodgkinson-2852_conclusion_a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-i_2107052.png" --- # A conclusion I’ve come to at the Idler is that it starts… ![“A conclusion I’ve come to at the Idler is that it starts with retreating from work but it’s really about making work into something that isn’t drudgery and slavery, and then work and life can become one thing.” quote by Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/tom-hodgkinson-2852_conclusion_a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-i_2107052.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/tom-hodgkinson-2852_conclusion_a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-i_2107052.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/tom-hodgkinson-2852_conclusion_a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-i_2107052.png) > “A conclusion I’ve come to at the Idler is that it starts with retreating from work but it’s really about making work into something that isn’t drudgery and slavery, and then work and life can become one thing.” [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work should be transformed from drudgery into a joyful, integrated part of life, merging work and personal fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Make work enjoyable and part of life. Key Takeaway Redesign work to be fulfilling. Themes work life balance joy Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - freelancing - creative projects - career change Key Concepts flow meaning autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How can you add meaning to your current work? - What steps can you take to blend work and life? A Different Perspective Not all jobs can be easily restructured. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Come Idler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-idler-4237057/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Idler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idler-436907/) [Idlers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idlers/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Retreating Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreating-work-4237056/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Starts Retreating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starts-retreating-4237058/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work and life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-and-life/) [Work Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-isn-257125/) ## Related quotes > [Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/writing-a-book-is-a-brilliant-thing-because-once-you-ve-finished-it/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Beauty, pleasure, freedom and plenty of sleep: these are the hallmarks of a successful idler's break. Travel should not be hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/beauty-pleasure-freedom-and-plenty-of-sleep-these-are-the-hallmarks/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I suddenly realised, hey, I'm not a lazy idiot, I'm an idler! It's something to aspire to, it's part of the creative process! That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/i-suddenly-realised-hey-i-m-not-a-lazy-idiot-i-m-an-idler-it-s/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I like the idea of the idler wheel - it just sits in between things, but it makes such a big difference in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-like-the-idea-of-the-idler-wheel-it-just-sits-in-between-things-but/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [How various his employments whom the world Calls idle; and who justly in return Esteems that busy world an idler too!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/how-various-his-employments-whom-the-world-calls-idle-and-who-justly/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [Every man is, or hopes to be, an idler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-man-is-or-hopes-to-be-an-idler/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A learned man is an idler who kills time by study.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-learned-man-is-an-idler-who-kills-time-by-study/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“There is a great difference between one idler and another idler. There is someone who is an idler out of laziness and lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/there-is-a-great-difference-between-one-idler-and-another-idler-there/) [Vincent van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [If I were to imagine myself as an idler wheel inside some big mix of gears, then I would be connected to everything. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/if-i-were-to-imagine-myself-as-an-idler-wheel-inside-some-big-mix-of/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [An idler is a watch that wants both hands; As useless if it goes as when it stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/an-idler-is-a-watch-that-wants-both-hands-as-useless-if-it-goes-as/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“Very often the idler is but a man to whom it is repugnant to spend all his life making the eighteenth part of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pyotr-kropotkin/very-often-the-idler-is-but-a-man-to-whom-it-is-repugnant-to-spend/) [Pyotr Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pyotr-kropotkin/) > [The faster you go, the idler you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferreira-gullar/the-faster-you-go-the-idler-you-get/) [Ferreira Gullar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferreira-gullar/) > [No man is so methodical as a complete idler, and none so scrupulous in measuring out his time as he whose time is worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/no-man-is-so-methodical-as-a-complete-idler-and-none-so-scrupulous-in/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [It sounds a little extreme, but in this day and age, if your work isn't online, it doesn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/it-sounds-a-little-extreme-but-in-this-day-and-age-if-your-work-isn-t/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [“What we call creative work, Ought not to be called work at all because it isn't. I imagine that Thomas Edison never did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-call-creative-work-ought-not-to-be-called-work-at-all-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Tom Hodgkinson > [By taking out a loan, I am committing myself to years of interest repayments, and therefore to years of wage slavery. And the UK…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/by-taking-out-a-loan-i-am-committing-myself-to-years-of-interest/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/writing-a-book-is-a-brilliant-thing-because-once-you-ve-finished-it/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Beauty, pleasure, freedom and plenty of sleep: these are the hallmarks of a successful idler's break. Travel should not be hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/beauty-pleasure-freedom-and-plenty-of-sleep-these-are-the-hallmarks/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [These days we seem more bound to our bosses than ever before. We even identify our own selves with the jobs we do: 'What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/these-days-we-seem-more-bound-to-our-bosses-than-ever-before-we-even/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The way to stop feeling guilty is to read stuff - I'm not saying my book, but works by Bertrand Russell or Oscar Wilde,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/the-way-to-stop-feeling-guilty-is-to-read-stuff-i-m-not-saying-my/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The phrase 'work/life balance' encapsulates a depressing outlook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/the-phrase-work-life-balance-encapsulates-a-depressing-outlook/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The idea of a government is to create an ordered, willing work force where there's no trouble. I think idlers are generally seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/the-idea-of-a-government-is-to-create-an-ordered-willing-work-force/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [When stuck years ago in a job I hated, my only friend was the public bench. As the tedious mornings dragged on, how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/when-stuck-years-ago-in-a-job-i-hated-my-only-friend-was-the-public/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [All poets are idlers, even if all idlers are not poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/all-poets-are-idlers-even-if-all-idlers-are-not-poets/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Pain will never leave us. Instead of putting energy into destroying pain, we need to put energy into creating pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/pain-will-never-leave-us-instead-of-putting-energy-into-destroying/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Sensible people advise against drinking on an empty stomach, but to my mind it is the best sort of drinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/sensible-people-advise-against-drinking-on-an-empty-stomach-but-to-my/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Paradoxically, to be truly idle, you also have to be efficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/paradoxically-to-be-truly-idle-you-also-have-to-be-efficient/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Am I the only person in the world who is shocked and amazed at the ongoing flattery of uebergeek Mark Zuckerberg?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/am-i-the-only-person-in-the-world-who-is-shocked-and-amazed-at-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I would like to propose slow cycling. Commute by bike. At a stroke, you remove the need for and absurd cost of public transport.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/i-would-like-to-propose-slow-cycling-commute-by-bike-at-a-stroke-you/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) [Explore all 144 Tom Hodgkinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) ## More Conclusion quotes > [I'm not going to be part of looking at information only partially. I'm not going to be part of just coming to quick conclusions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-m-not-going-to-be-part-of-looking-at-information-only-partially-i-m/) [Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [The main conclusion here arrived at ... is that man is descended from some less highly organized form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-main-conclusion-here-arrived-at-is-that-man-is-descended-from/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [Every study on chocolate is pointing to the same conclusion: there is something in chocolate that is really good for us. That something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/every-study-on-chocolate-is-pointing-to-the-same-conclusion-there-is/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [I have come to the definite conclusion that musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/i-have-come-to-the-definite-conclusion-that-musical-ability-is-not-an/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [Study how a society uses its land, and you can come to pretty reliable conclusions as to what its future will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/study-how-a-society-uses-its-land-and-you-can-come-to-pretty-reliable/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That's what politics is. It's the story of what's happening, what does it mean, what's the conclusion, who are the interesting characters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/that-s-what-politics-is-it-s-the-story-of-what-s-happening-what-does/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [To each eye, perhaps, the outlines of a great civilization present a different picture. In the wide ocean upon which we venture, the possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-burckhardt/to-each-eye-perhaps-the-outlines-of-a-great-civilization-present-a/) [Jacob Burckhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-burckhardt/) > [If you jump to conclusion you can't step on a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-santinello/if-you-jump-to-conclusion-you-can-t-step-on-a-clue/) [James Santinello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-santinello/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 1,619 Conclusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A conclusion I’ve come to at the Idler is that it starts with retreating from work but it’s really about making work into something that isn’t drudgery and slavery, and then work and life can become one thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Hodgkinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-is-that-it-starts-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conclusion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-is-that-it-starts-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/tom-hodgkinson-2852_conclusion_a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-i_2107052.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/tom-hodgkinson-2852_conclusion_a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-i_2107052.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/tom-hodgkinson-2852_conclusion_a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-i_2107052.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A conclusion I’ve come to at the Idler is that it starts with retreating from work but it’s really about…” — Tom Hodgkinson", "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": "Tom Hodgkinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A conclusion I’ve come to at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-is-that-it-starts-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/a-conclusion-i-ve-come-to-at-the-idler-is-that-it-starts-with/#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 } } ] } ```