--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is already possible to imagine a…" description: "\"It is already possible to imagine a society in which the majority of the population, that is to say, its laborers, will have almost as much leisure as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/w-h-auden-856_aristocracy_it-is-already-possible-to-imagine-a-soci_1355874.jpg" --- # It is already possible to imagine a society in which the… ![“It is already possible to imagine a society in which the majority of the population, that is to say, its laborers, will have almost as much leisure as in earlier times was enjoyed by the aristocracy. When one recalls how aristocracies in the past actually behaved, the prospect is not cheerful.” quote by W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/w-h-auden-856_aristocracy_it-is-already-possible-to-imagine-a-soci_1355874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/w-h-auden-856_aristocracy_it-is-already-possible-to-imagine-a-soci_1355874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/965/w-h-auden-856_aristocracy_it-is-already-possible-to-imagine-a-soci_1355874.jpg) > “It is already possible to imagine a society in which the majority of the population, that is to say, its laborers, will have almost as much leisure as in earlier times was enjoyed by the aristocracy. When one recalls how aristocracies in the past actually behaved, the prospect is not cheerful.” [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A future with abundant leisure for workers may repeat the oppressive leisure of past aristocracies, suggesting such a shift may not be desirable. **In simple terms:** More leisure could repeat aristocratic oppression. Key Takeaway Question the quality of leisure. Themes labor leisure social structure Mood critical concerned Type analytical warning When to use this quote - policy making - future planning Key Concepts economic history class dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What defines meaningful leisure? - How to avoid past mistakes? A Different Perspective Leisure alone isn’t fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Cheerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) [Laborers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laborers/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Leisure time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure-time/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Monarchies, aristocracies, and religions…there was never a country where the majority of the people were in their secret hearts loyal to any of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/monarchies-aristocracies-and-religions-there-was-never-a-country/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The important thing for the survival of the Thai society is that the majority of those who work, both in the government and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumibol-adulyadej/the-important-thing-for-the-survival-of-the-thai-society-is-that-the/) [Bhumibol Adulyadej](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumibol-adulyadej/) > [In virtually every Continental state at this time, aristocracies had to live with the risk that their property might be pillaged or confiscated. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/in-virtually-every-continental-state-at-this-time-aristocracies-had/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [Civilization has been a continuous struggle of the individual or of groups of individuals against the State and even against "society," that is, against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/civilization-has-been-a-continuous-struggle-of-the-individual-or-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [We have this sacred cow in our society that what the majority of people want is right—but is it? Our populace can't really be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/we-have-this-sacred-cow-in-our-society-that-what-the-majority-of/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [In the schools of small Midwestern towns, the only aristocracies are of beauty, intelligence, and athletic prowess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/in-the-schools-of-small-midwestern-towns-the-only-aristocracies-are/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [It is true that the aristocracies seem to have abused their monopoly of legal knowledge and at all events their exclusive possession of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james-sumner-maine/it-is-true-that-the-aristocracies-seem-to-have-abused-their-monopoly/) [Henry James Sumner Maine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james-sumner-maine/) > [The majority is not society, is not everyone. Majority coercion over the minority is still coercion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/the-majority-is-not-society-is-not-everyone-majority-coercion-over/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Every age that has historical status is governed by aristocracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/every-age-that-has-historical-status-is-governed-by-aristocracies/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) > [In a racially divided society, majority rule is not a reliable instrument of democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani-guinier/in-a-racially-divided-society-majority-rule-is-not-a-reliable/) Lani Guinier > [Machines have no political opinions, but they have profound political effects. They demand a strict regimentation of time, and, by abolishing the need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/machines-have-no-political-opinions-but-they-have-profound-political/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Between labor and play stands work. A man is a worker if he is personally interested in the job which society pays him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/between-labor-and-play-stands-work-a-man-is-a-worker-if-he-is/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“But it is not glorious lulls that concern me. It is the lulls that have no velocity, that offer no structured reassurance, that bloom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyo-maclear/but-it-is-not-glorious-lulls-that-concern-me-it-is-the-lulls-that/) [Kyo Maclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyo-maclear/) > [Nobody can live in society without conventions. The reason why sensible people are as conventional as they can bear to be is that conventionality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-live-in-society-without-conventions-the-reason-why/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Leisure time is that five or six hours when you sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen-sr/leisure-time-is-that-five-or-six-hours-when-you-sleep-at-night/) [George Allen, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen-sr/) ## More by W. H. Auden > [Pleasure is by no means an infallible critical guide, but it is the least fallible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/pleasure-is-by-no-means-an-infallible-critical-guide-but-it-is-the/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Why doesn't the United States take over the monarchy and unite with England? England does have important assets. Naturally the longer you wait, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/why-doesn-t-the-united-states-take-over-the-monarchy-and-unite-with/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The commonest ivory tower is that of the average man, the state of passivity towards experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-commonest-ivory-tower-is-that-of-the-average-man-the-state-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/harrow-the-house-of-the-dead-look-shining-at-new-styles-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Most poetry is the utterance of a man in some state of passion, love, joy, grief, rage, etc., and no doubt this is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/most-poetry-is-the-utterance-of-a-man-in-some-state-of-passion-love/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/men-will-pay-large-sums-to-whores-for-telling-them-they-are-not-bores/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [If age, which is certainly Just as wicked as youth, look any wiser, It is only that youth is still able to believe It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/if-age-which-is-certainly-just-as-wicked-as-youth-look-any-wiser-it/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“Those to whom evil is done, do evil in return”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/those-to-whom-evil-is-done-do-evil-in-return/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn, Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/i-and-the-public-know-what-all-schoolchildren-learn-those-to-whom/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [One cannot walk through an assembly factory and not feel that one is in Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/one-cannot-walk-through-an-assembly-factory-and-not-feel-that-one-is/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [How happy the lot of the mathematician. He is judged solely by his peers, and the standard is so high that no colleague or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/how-happy-the-lot-of-the-mathematician-he-is-judged-solely-by-his/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Perhaps there is only one cardinal sin: impatience. Because of impatience we were driven out of Paradise, because of impatience we cannot return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/perhaps-there-is-only-one-cardinal-sin-impatience-because-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The windiest militant trash Important Persons shout Is not so crude as our wish: What mad Nijinsky wrote About Diaghilev Is true of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-windiest-militant-trash-important-persons-shout-is-not-so-crude/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Time and fevers burn away Individual beauty from Thoughtful children, and the grave Proves the child ephemeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/time-and-fevers-burn-away-individual-beauty-from-thoughtful-children/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [To hunt for symbols in a fairy tale is absolutely fatal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/to-hunt-for-symbols-in-a-fairy-tale-is-absolutely-fatal/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) [Explore all 344 W. H. Auden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) ## More Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power … but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a-2/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. 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The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is already possible to imagine a society in which the majority of the population, that is to say, its laborers, will have almost as much leisure as in earlier times was enjoyed by the aristocracy. When one recalls how aristocracies in the past actually behaved, the prospect is not cheerful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. H. 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