A is for AMUSEMENT

Encourage innocent amusement.

Joseph Addison

Let the world have their Maygames, wakes, whetsunales, their dancings and concerts; their puppet-shows, hobby horses, tabors, bagpipes, balls, barley-breaks, and whatever sports and recreations please them best, provided they be followed with discretion.

Robert Burton

We have all our playthings. Happy are they who are contented with those they can obtain; those hours are spent in the wisest manner that can easiest shade the ills of life, and are the least productive of ill consequences.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu



The mind ought sometimes to be the amused, that it may the better return to thought, and to itself.

Phaedrus (Thrace of Macedonia)



Recreation is not the highest kind act of enjoyment; but in its time and place it is quite as proper as prayer.

Samuel Irenaeu Prime

The real character of a man is found out by his amusements.

Sir Joshua Reynolds



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 (Theseus at V, i)



Life would be tolerable but for its amusements.

George Bernard Shaw