This quote from Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell offers a fascinating reflection on the value and perception of magic as a profession. The speaker's tone carries a mix of incredulity and condescension, implying that magic is an impractical and perhaps frivolous pursuit, especially when one has inherited wealth and thus has no pressing necessity to work. It's an intriguing commentary on societal attitudes toward vocation and utility. Is a profession chosen purely based on practical outcomes, or can it be about passion, identity, or legacy? Magic, in Clarke's novel, functions as a metaphor, representing not only the mystical but the misunderstood, the undervalued, and perhaps the rebellious. The dismissal of magic as useless despite its symbolic richness challenges the reader to reconsider what they deem 'practical' or worthwhile. This quote encourages reflection on how societal expectations often prioritize conventional achievements over the enriching but less tangible pursuits of creativity and knowledge. Even though the speaker assumes that owning property negates the need to work, the proposal to simply abandon an interest or vocation because it lacks immediate practicality is reductive. Professions, or callings, hold deeper value than economic function; they shape personal fulfillment, contribution to culture, and the advancement of specialized knowledge. This tension between practical utility and personal aspiration invites the reader to question how we define meaningful work and how societal values influence our life choices. Overall, the passage is a thoughtful meditation on vocation, social expectations, and the intrinsic value of pursuits that may defy immediate measurement or utility.