The frivolous work of polished idleness.
- Sir James Mackintosh,

The frivolous work of polished idleness.
- Sir James Mackintosh,

Their only labour was to kill the time;
And labour dire it is, and weary woe,
They read more

Their only labour was to kill the time;
And labour dire it is, and weary woe,
They sit, they loll, turn o'er some idle rhyme,
Then, rising sudden, to the glass they go,
Or saunter forth, with tottering steps and slow.

That destructive siren, sloth, is ever to be avoided.
[Lat., Vitanda est improba--desidia.]

That destructive siren, sloth, is ever to be avoided.
[Lat., Vitanda est improba--desidia.]

I don't think necessity is the mother of invention -- invention . . . arises directly from idleness, possibly also read more

I don't think necessity is the mother of invention -- invention . . . arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble.

Idleness is emptiness; the tree in which the sap is stagnant,
remains fruitless.

Idleness is emptiness; the tree in which the sap is stagnant,
remains fruitless.

I never remember feeling tired by work, though idleness exhausts me completely.

I never remember feeling tired by work, though idleness exhausts me completely.

It is not the hours we put in on the job, it is what we put into the hours that read more

It is not the hours we put in on the job, it is what we put into the hours that counts.

A nation rushing hastily too and fro, busily employed in idleness.

A nation rushing hastily too and fro, busily employed in idleness.

Busy idleness urges us on.
[Lat., Strenua nos exercet inertia.]

Busy idleness urges us on.
[Lat., Strenua nos exercet inertia.]