"Work with some men is as besetting a sin as idleness"

This quote by Samuel Butler is a pointer that excessive work can be just as harmful as not working at all. Butler is recommending that dealing with some men can be a type of enslavement, as it can be tough to break away from the cycle of straining. He is alerting versus the risks of becoming too taken in with work, as it can lead to a lack of balance in life and can be detrimental to one's psychological and physical health. Butler is likewise recommending that excessive work can result in a lack of imagination and performance, as it can be tough to think outside package when one is too concentrated on the job at hand. Ultimately, Butler is encouraging people to discover a balance between work and leisure, as too much of either can be destructive.