Amusement

Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and usually entertaining events or situations, and is associated with enjoyment, happiness, laughter and pleasure. Activities or objects which bring about such experiences are called amusements.

Sourced

• The inhabitants have a right to take their amusements in a lawful way.
  • Heath, J., Fitch v. Fitch (1797), 2 Esp. 544; reported in James William Norton-Kyshe, Dictionary of Legal Quotations (1904), p. 13.

• If variety is sought in all the arts and amusements, such as archery and others, how much more should it be sought after in the art of love.
  • Kama Sutra, Part 2, Chapter 4; from Sir Richard Burton's translation (1883).

• After a few days, Willie got tired of [the water-wheel] — and no blame to him, for it was no earthly use beyond amusement, and that which can only amuse can never amuse long.
  • George MacDonald, The History of Gutta Percha Willie, the Working Genius (1873).

Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations

Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 23.

• It was an old, old, old, old lady,
  And a boy who was half-past three;
  And the way they played together
  Was beautiful to see.
  • H. C. Bunner, One, Two, Three.

• So good things may be abused, and that which was first invented to refresh men's weary spirits.
  • Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621), Part II, Section II. Mem. 4.

• I am a great friend to public amusements; for they keep people from vice.
  • Samuel Johnson, Boswell's Life of Johnson, (1772).

• Play up, play up, and play the game.
  • Sir Henry Newbolt, Vital Lampada.

• Hail, blest Confusion! here are met
  All tongues, and times, and faces;
  The Lancers flirt with Juliet,
  The Brahmin talks of races.
  • Praed, Fancy Ball, St. 6.

• Where is our usual manager of mirth?
  What revels are in hand? Is there no play,
  To ease the anguish of a torturing hour?
  • William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act V., Sc. 1., line 35.

• We cry for mercy to the next amusement,
  The next amusement mortgages our fields.
  • Young, Night Thoughts (1742-1745), Night II, line 131.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

Quotes reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895).

• Amusements are to religion like breezes of air to the flame; gentle ones will fan it, but strong ones will put it out.
  • David Thomas, p. 12.

• Any pleasure which takes and keeps the heart from God is sinful, and unless forsaken, will be fatal to the soul.
  • Richard Fuller, p. 12.

• People should be guarded against temptation to unlawful pleasures by furnishing them the means of innocent ones. In every community there must be pleasures, relaxations, and means of agreeable excitement; and if innocent are not furnished, resort will be had to criminal. Man was made to enjoy as well as labor; and the state of society should be adapted to this principle of human nature.
  • William Ellery Channing, p. 12.

• Recreation is not the highest kind of enjoyment; but in its time and place it is quite as proper as prayer.
  • Samuel I. Prime, p. 12.

• Whatever we do to please ourselves, and only for the sake of the pleasure, not for an ultimate object, is "play," the "pleasing thing," not the useful thing. The first of all English games is making money. That is an all-absorbing game; and we knock each other down oftener in playing at that than at football, or any other rougher sport; and it is absolutely without purpose; no one who engages heartily in that game ever knows why. Ask a great money-maker what he wants to do with his money — he never knows. He doesn't make it to do any thing with it. He gets it only that he may get it. " What will you make of what you have got ' " you ask, "Well, I'll get more," he says. Just as at cricket you get more runs. There is no use in the runs; but to get more of them than other people is the game. And there is no use in the money; but to have more of it than other people is the game.
  • Charles Spurgeon, p. 13.

See also

• Fun
• Laughter