Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid." - Meaning and context.">
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Ch. 1: In Praise of Idleness
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First of all: what is work? Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid.

— Bertrand Russell

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "First of all: what is work? Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relatively to other such matter; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid." in the context of "Ch. 1: In Praise of Idleness" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Bertrand Russell" (Quotes, 1930s, In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays (1935)) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed February 08, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app

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#Bertrand Russell#matter#second#paid#relatively#unpleasant#altering#position#pleasant#surface#telling#earths
Bertrand Russell

About Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell (May 18, 1872 – February 2, 1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. In 1950, he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature.