--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes a while to master the art of…" description: "\"It takes a while to master the art of hammock-lounging. At first I could only manage five minutes or so before I thought I ought to get out and go and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/tom-hodgkinson-2852_art_it-takes-a-while-to-master-the-art-of-ha_3090718.jpg" --- # It takes a while to master the art of hammock-lounging. At… ![“It takes a while to master the art of hammock-lounging. At first I could only manage five minutes or so before I thought I ought to get out and go and help a child learn how to swim or something. But after observing the Mexicans' capability for staring into space for hours on end, I decided to put…” quote by Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/tom-hodgkinson-2852_art_it-takes-a-while-to-master-the-art-of-ha_3090718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/tom-hodgkinson-2852_art_it-takes-a-while-to-master-the-art-of-ha_3090718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/tom-hodgkinson-2852_art_it-takes-a-while-to-master-the-art-of-ha_3090718.jpg) > “It takes a while to master the art of hammock-lounging. At first I could only manage five minutes or so before I thought I ought to get out and go and help a child learn how to swim or something. But after observing the Mexicans' capability for staring into space for hours on end, I decided to put in some proper practice.” [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. Learning to relax deeply takes patience; observing others' ease can inspire practice. **In simple terms:** Relaxation requires practice and patience. Key Takeaway Embrace slow, steady practice. Themes relaxation patience mindfulness Mood calm reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - learning to unwind - stress relief - personal downtime Key Concepts habit formation cultural observation Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate short relaxation periods daily? - What does “staring into space” teach about mental rest? A Different Perspective Progress may be slow and feel unproductive at first. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Hammock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hammock/) [Lounging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lounging/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Staring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring/) [Staring into space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring-into-space/) ## Related quotes > [Meetings, clearly, can take place anywhere, and wouldn't it be nice to see your coworkers lounging on the grass with their shoes off?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/meetings-clearly-can-take-place-anywhere-and-wouldn-t-it-be-nice-to/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [We were lounging around in this beautiful house in LA, and I'm coming from NY, so sometimes when we weren't working I would just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gyllenhaal/we-were-lounging-around-in-this-beautiful-house-in-la-and-i-m-coming/) [Maggie Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gyllenhaal/) > [“Maybe that's why we used to get along so well - we both enjoyed lounging around in our own chaos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-r-kling/maybe-that-s-why-we-used-to-get-along-so-well-we-both-enjoyed/) [Heidi R. Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-r-kling/) > [With another shock of excitement, Harry saw Sirius give James the thumbs-up. Sirius was lounging in his chair at his ease, tilting it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-another-shock-of-excitement-harry-saw-sirius-give-james-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I walked across the polished marble floor and sat on a red velvet lounging couch. I idly wondered how exactly one was supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-walked-across-the-polished-marble-floor-and-sat-on-a-red-velvet/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [They sped by a pack of sea lions lounging on the docks, and she swore she saw an old homeless guy sitting among them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/they-sped-by-a-pack-of-sea-lions-lounging-on-the-docks-and-she-swore/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I sing songs from the theater and pop songs. When I say 'pop songs,' I mean from the 90's. And I tell jokes. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-sing-songs-from-the-theater-and-pop-songs-when-i-say-pop-songs-i/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [My ideal life is just lounging around the house and every once in a while I'll kind of write something, and then I'll leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/my-ideal-life-is-just-lounging-around-the-house-and-every-once-in-a/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [Life on board a pleasure steamer violates every moral and physical condition of healthy life except fresh air. . . . It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/life-on-board-a-pleasure-steamer-violates-every-moral-and-physical/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I think of myself as the queen of lounging. No lounge queen is complete without lounge clothes and house wigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-williams/i-think-of-myself-as-the-queen-of-lounging-no-lounge-queen-is/) [Wendy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-williams/) > [Free... Yes...FREE time Is what retirement brings Leisure, lounging and loafing And other lazy things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/free-yes-free-time-is-what-retirement-brings-leisure-lounging-and/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [And then, I do love my shopping, but actually, lounging is the big thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delta-burke/and-then-i-do-love-my-shopping-but-actually-lounging-is-the-big-thing/) [Delta Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delta-burke/) > [When I'm lounging at home it has to be my trackpants and T-shirt. If I am going out, I prefer wearing a nice dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/when-i-m-lounging-at-home-it-has-to-be-my-trackpants-and-t-shirt-if-i/) [Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/) > [Books, gentlemen, are a species of men, and introduced to them you circulate in the "very best society" that this world can furnish, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/books-gentlemen-are-a-species-of-men-and-introduced-to-them-you/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) ## 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. 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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. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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