But at Oyster Bay our great and permanent amusements were rowing and sailing; I do not care for the latter, and am fond of the former.

I suppose it sounds archaic, but I cannot help thinking that the people with motor boats miss a great deal.

If they would only keep to rowboats or canoes, and use oar or paddle themselves, they would get infinitely more benefit than by having their work done for them by gasoline.

But I rarely took exercise merely as exercise.

Primarily I took it because I liked it.
Play should never be allowed to interfere with work; and a life devoted merely to play is, of all forms of existence, the most dismal.