Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental

Hear, O lovers of wisdom and seekers of joy, the words of William Lyon Phelps, the scholar and teacher, who proclaimed: “Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good plays, good company, good conversation—what are they? They are the happiest people in the world.” These words shine as a lantern for all generations, for they teach that true happiness is not in endless toil nor in empty amusements, but in the noble use of leisure, the hours when man may choose how to cultivate his soul.

For behold, leisure is given to every man, though not equally in measure. To some it comes after the day’s labor, to others in the wealth of idle hours. Yet what one does with this precious time reveals the state of the spirit. Many squander leisure in trivial diversions, in distractions that dull the mind and weaken the will. But the wise use leisure as a sacred space, filling it with music that uplifts, books that enlighten, pictures that inspire, plays that stir the emotions, company that strengthens the heart, and conversations that sharpen the intellect. In such things, man finds not only joy but growth.

Consider the example of the Renaissance. The artists, scholars, and thinkers of that age lived not only by labor but by the fruitful use of leisure. In their hours of reflection, they read the wisdom of the ancients, studied the beauty of nature, and conversed with one another. From this cultivation arose Michelangelo’s art, Shakespeare’s plays, and Galileo’s science. Their happiness was not mere pleasure—it was the joy of a mind nourished and a soul awakened. Phelps speaks in their spirit: that those who choose enrichment over idleness in their free hours find a deeper, lasting joy.

Mark this also: leisure used rightly is not selfish indulgence but a gift to the world. The one who spends his hours in good books and wise conversation becomes a better friend, a more thoughtful leader, a more compassionate companion. The one who fills his heart with good music and noble art carries peace and inspiration wherever he goes. Thus the happiness born of cultivated leisure is not solitary—it flows outward, like a fountain that refreshes all who come near.

Yet beware, for there lies a great danger in leisure misused. The idle man, who wastes his hours in folly or numbs his soul with base pleasures, may find temporary escape but not happiness. His leisure becomes chains, binding him in mediocrity and emptiness. The ancients spoke of this truth when they warned that the unexamined life is not worth living. Phelps echoes their wisdom: happiness belongs to those who choose to nurture mind and spirit in the moments when they are free.

The lesson is clear: do not squander your leisure, for it is the soil in which your soul grows. Choose your pastimes as carefully as one chooses seeds for a garden. If you plant weeds, weeds will grow; but if you plant noble things—music, books, art, plays, conversation, good company—you will harvest joy, wisdom, and strength. In these choices lies the difference between emptiness and fulfillment.

Practical wisdom calls for this: carve out even small moments each day for enriching leisure. Read a page of a great book, listen to a piece of good music, converse sincerely with a friend. Visit galleries, attend plays, or share meals with companions who uplift you. Let your leisure be sacred, a temple where your spirit is renewed. By such simple, deliberate acts, you will discover a joy that no wealth or fame can equal.

Thus, beloved, remember William Lyon Phelps’s words: the happiest people in the world are not those who possess the most, but those who use their leisure to cultivate mind, heart, and spirit. Let your free hours become a sanctuary of beauty and wisdom, and in them you shall find not only happiness, but the true flourishing of your soul.