It makes me happy to encounter goodness, love of work, humane intelligence, and people no matter at what kind of job, be it ever so humble, or ever so exalted, who do it well and con amore.
Bernard BerensonRead
What is the good of life if its chief element, and that which must always be its chief element, is odious? No, the only true economy is to arrange so that your daily labor shall be itself a joy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life should be enjoyable and fulfilling rather than burdensome.
Edward Carpenter emphasizes the importance of finding joy in one's daily activities. He argues that if life’s fundamental aspect is unpleasant, then it loses its value. True fulfillment comes from arranging our lives in such a way that our work and daily labor bring us happiness rather than dread.
Themes
JoyHappinessWorkLifeLabor
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about work-life balance, you might say, 'What is the good of life if its chief element is odious?' to emphasize the importance of finding joy in daily tasks.
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