Leisure
"What is this life if full of care?
We have no time to stand and stare."
These words of W.H.Davies have
be-come proverbial. What is leisure? Leisure is different from idleness.
Idleness is just marking one's time. But leisure means rest which is of
significance only if one has already done some hard work. Thus leisure prepares
the human body and mind for more work. In his book, "In praise of
Idleness," Bertrand Russell has used the word "idleness" for
leisure. He believes that time spent for leisure is not wasted. Leisure is
essential to increase efficiency and to improve the quality of work done. The
famous political thinker, Harold Laski, pleads for occasional leisure to the
workers to enable them to work and live better lives.
The human body is, after all, a
machine created by nature. Brain is an integral part of human body. The body
and the mind get tired after hard continuous work. Just as every machine
requires some rest after having been put to use for some time, human body and
mind also need rest. Rest and leisure act like a lubricant in the machine
without which the machine's life would be reduced because of friction and
attrition.
Leisure, however, does not mean
freedom from activities of all kinds. It only means diversion. A physical
worker can read some absorbing or hilarious book during hours of leisure. An
intellectual worker may play some light game. If weather permits, one may have
a walk outside. Otherwise, some indoor game may be pursued. All hobbies like
gardening, photography, reading, sight-seeing etc. are actually different
versions of leisure.
One should, however, remember
that hours of leisure should not be too long and too frequent. Leisure is only
supplementary and complementary to work. It is work which comes first. The same
is the lesson for the students. They should play games but not at the cost of
studies. It is said, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." At
the same time, it may be said "All play and no work makes Jack a
dullard."
Leisure must be spent usefully
and constructively only, otherwise the Devil will take the better of you. One
should keep oneself aloof from those who indulge in gambling, drinking etc. in
the name of leisure.
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