Quotessence
Home / Topics / Idleness Quotes

Idleness Quotes

Browse 458 quotes about Idleness.

Related topics

IdleMenLazinessIfsPeopleLaborMayMindWorkVicesBodyDoeLittlesPleasureSinThinkingWorldBusyKnowsPovertyVirtueHandsShouldWantEvilGivingIndustryLongPoor RichardPrideSoulTimeLeisureRustWasteWritingActionBookBoredomDevilEmploymentHas BeensHumansIndolenceLiteratureMotherReadingSlothActiveArtDoing NothingDutyExcuseFollyGovernmentHeartMereMightPassionProduceSolitudeSometimesSorrowTemptationTroubleUsedUselessWealthWellsYoung

Idleness Quotes

“Friends and neighbors complain that taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might the more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly.”

IfsGovernmentMightThreeFriendshipPayFourPrideFriendsWise WordsTaxesHeavyNeighborComplainingFollyThree TimesIdlenessPoor RichardDischargeTax Day
Author:Benjamin Franklin
Create image

“A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption.”

DangerSoldierCorruptionDistressIdleness
Book:The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., comprehending an account of his studies, and numerous works, in chronological order: a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons; and various original pieces of his composition, never before published; the whole exhibiting a view of literature and literary men in Great Britain, for near half a century during which he flourished
Create image

“The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment. It is commonly observed, that among soldiers and seamen, though there is much kindness, there is little grief; they see their friend fall without any of that lamentation which is indulged in security and idleness, because they have no leisure to spare from the care of themselves; and whoever shall keep his thoughts equally busy will find himself equally unaffected with irretrievable losses.”

LittlesCareFallLossGriefKindnessSecuritySorrowSafeBusySoldierEmploymentLeisureSparesIdlenessAntidoteLamentationSeamen
Book:The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With An Essay on His Life and Genius
Create image

“To blame the poor for subsisting on welfare has no justice unless we are also willing to judge every rich member of society by how productive he or she is. Taken individual by individual, it is likely that there's more idleness and abuse of government favors among the economically privileged than among the ranks of the disadvantaged.”

GovernmentIndividualJusticePoorRichTakenWillingJudgingMembersAbuseBlameFavorsWelfareProductivePrivilegedIdlenessDisadvantaged
Author:Norman Mailer
Create image

“Taxes are indeed very heavy - We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness. Three times as much by our Pride. And four times as much by our Folly.”

ThreeFourPrideTaxesHeavyFollyTaxationThree TimesIdlenessPoor RichardIncome TaxTax DayTaxes Funny
Book:Memoirs of the Life and Writings of (the Same), Continued to the Time of His Death by William Temple Franklin. - London, H. Colburn 1818
Create image

“Surely nothing is more reproachful to a being endowed with reason, than to resign its powers to the influence of the air, and live in dependence on the weather and the wind, for the only blessings which nature has put into our power, tranquillity and benevolence. To look up to the sky for the nutriment of our bodies, is the condition of nature; to call upon the sun for peace and gaiety, or deprecate the clouds lest sorrow should overwhelm us, is the cowardice of idleness, and the idolatry of folly.”

ShouldLooksReasonBodySunAirSkyInfluenceConditionsWindSorrowBlessingCloudsWeatherLook UpFollyCowardiceDependenceIdlenessBenevolenceIdolatryTranquillityGaiety
Book:Samuel Johnson: Selected Writings
Create image

“Dreaming is a form of action. Idleness is a form of action. The idle man stares at the sky and sees what constitutes our eternal ceiling. The sky is one of the things that constructs us, one of our constants. But it is not what people believe. I should like to close this circle by turning over in my bed and scrutinizing the stars.”

PeopleMenShouldBelieveDreamActionFormStarsSkyDesignBedEternalCirclesStaringIdleConstructsIdlenessCeilings
Author:Philippe Starck
Create image

“Mrs. Jo did not mean the measles, but that more serious malady called love, which is apt to ravage communities, spring and autumn, when winter gayety and summer idleness produce whole bouquets of engagements, and set young people to pairing off like the birds.”

PeopleMeanWholeYoungCommunityProduceSeriousSummerSpringBirdWinterAutumnEngagementIdlenessMaladyBouquetsMeasles
Book:The 'Little Women' Trilogy (Illustrated)
Create image

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.”

PeopleHardCharacterInspirationMotivationalSuccessTurnsWorkAttitudeHard WorkPersonalityPositivityPersistenceNosesPositive AttitudeLazinessWorkplaceIdlenessDiligenceSleevesSpotlightGood CharacterPositive MotivationHardworkHardworkingDetermination And SuccessGreat CharacterBack To WorkMotivational WorkAchieved SuccessGreat AttitudePositive InspirationalGreat Positive AttitudeWork EffortBuilding CharacterFunny WorkIdlersHardwork And DeterminationWork RelatedHard Work SuccessPositive Attitude And SuccessHard Work Comes SuccessEffort And Hard WorkHard Work MotivationalInspirational Hard WorkMotivation And Hard WorkHard Work And DeterminationValue Of Hard WorkAdversity And PerseverancePerseverance And Hard WorkDetermination By Famous PeopleEffort And SuccessWorkplace MotivationWork Hard Play HardWorkplace Motivational
Author:Sam Ewing
Create image

“The day of my departure at length arrived. Clerval spent the last evening with us. He had endeavoured to persuade his father to permit him to accompany me and to become my fellow student, but in vain. His father was a narrow-minded trader, and saw idleness and ruin in the aspirations and ambition of his son. Henry deeply felt the misfortune of being debarred from a liberal education. He said little, but when he spoke I read in his kindling eye and in his animated glance a restrained but firm resolve not to be chained to the miserable details of commerce.”

LittlesSaidEyeLastsFatherFeltSawsStudentsSonAmbitionFellowsDetailsRuinsEveningMiserableVainFirmAspirationSpokesLengthResolveMisfortunesPermitCommerceGlancesIdlenessAnimatedDepartureAccompanyTradersChainedNarrow-mindedLiberal EducationKindling
Book:Frankenstein
Create image

“Our youth must be steadfast and take advantage of the benefits of modern civilization. Do not fall prey to idleness for it shall be a curse to you and to succeeding generations. You must set yourselves us as examples of determination and hard work. Plan your time and use both your physical and mental powers purposefully and productively.”

HardUseFallPlansGenerationsModernExampleYouthHard WorkCivilizationSucceedBenefitsAdvantageDeterminationCursePreyIdlenessSteadfastMental PowerModern Civilization
Author:Haile Selassie
Create image

“Sometimes I think that idlers seem to be a special class for whom nothing can be planned, plead as one will with them - their only contribution to the human family is to warm a seat at the common table.”

ThinkingHumansSometimesSeemsCommonClassSpecialTablesWarmContributionSeatsLazinessIdleIdlenessHuman FamilyIdlers
Book:The Complete Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry, Articles, Letters, Plays & Screenplays: From the author of The Great Gatsby, The Side of Paradise, Tender Is the Night, The Beautiful and Damned, The Love of the Last Tycoon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and many other notable works
Create image

“Four Seasons fill the measure of the year; There are four seasons in the mind of man: He has his lusty Spring, when fancy clear Takes in all beauty with an easy span: He has his Summer, when luxuriously Spring's honey'd cud of youthful thought he loves To ruminate, and by such dreaming high Is nearest unto heaven: quiet coves His soul has in its Autumn, when his wings He furleth close; contented so to look On mists in idleness—to let fair things Pass by unheeded as a threshold brook. He has his Winter too of pale misfeature, Or else he would forego his mortal nature.”

MenYearsMindLooksSoulDreamHeavenEasyClearFourQuietSummerSpringFairsSeasonsWingsWinterMortalsFancyAutumnHoneyPaleIdlenessMistThresholdBrooksFour Seasons
Book:The poetical works of John Keats
Create image