I live an idle burden to the ground.

I live an idle burden to the ground.

What heart can think, or tongue express,
The harm that groweth of idleness?

What heart can think, or tongue express,
The harm that groweth of idleness?

An idle life always produces varied inclinations.
[Lat., Variam semper dant otia mentem.]

An idle life always produces varied inclinations.
[Lat., Variam semper dant otia mentem.]

Other men have acquired fame by industry, but this man by
indolence.
[Lat., Utque alios industria, ita hunc read more

Other men have acquired fame by industry, but this man by
indolence.
[Lat., Utque alios industria, ita hunc ignavia ad vamam
protulat.]

Thus idly busy rolls their world away.

Thus idly busy rolls their world away.

For idleness is an appendix to nobility.

For idleness is an appendix to nobility.

How various his employments whom the world
Calls idle; and who justly in return
Esteems that busy read more

How various his employments whom the world
Calls idle; and who justly in return
Esteems that busy world an idler too!

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

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

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time,
which every day produces, and which most read more

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time,
which every day produces, and which most men throw away, but
which nevertheless will make at the end of it no small deduction
for the life of man.