Quote by Mark Twain

Tom said to himself that it was not such a hollow world, after all. He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it -- namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain. If he had been a great and wise philosopher, like the writer of this book, he would now have comprehended that Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and that Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do. And this would help him to understand why constructing artificial flowers or performing on a tread-mill is work, while rolling ten-pins or climbing Mont Blanc is only amusement. There are wealthy gentlemen in England who drive four-horse passenger-coaches twenty or thirty miles on a daily line, in the summer, because the privilege costs them considerable money; but if they were offered wages for the service, that would turn it into work and then they would resign.

Summary

This quote illustrates a realization Tom has made about human behavior. He recognizes that when something is difficult or hard to obtain, it becomes more desirable. Tom concludes that work is defined as tasks one is obliged to do, while play refers to activities one is not obliged to do. This understanding helps him discern why certain activities, like performing monotonous tasks or crafting artificial flowers, are considered work. Meanwhile, engaging in enjoyable activities like playing sports or indulging in leisurely pursuits are viewed as play. The quote further highlights how individuals' perceptions of tasks can change based on whether they are obligated to perform them or if they are available as a voluntary choice.