Marylin Monroe relaxing with a cigarette

One shortcoming of our modern culture is the universal lack of adequate relaxation. Many of us not only do not know how to relax, but do not take time to learn. Smoking helps us relax because, like music, it is rhythmic.

Smoking gives us a legitimate excuse to linger a little longer after meals, to stop work for a few minutes, to sit at home without doing anything that requires effort.

Here is a nostalgic comment contributed by a strong defender of smoking: “After a long day’s work, to get home and sit in a chair and stretch my legs ‘way out, and then to sit back and just smoke a cigarette and think of nothing, just blow the smoke in the air – that’s what I like to do when I’ve had a pretty tough day.” The restful effect of moderate smoking explains why people working under great stress use more tobacco.