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

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

Were't not affection chains thy tender days
To the sweet glances of thy honored love,
I rather read more

Were't not affection chains thy tender days
To the sweet glances of thy honored love,
I rather would entreat thy company
To see the wonders of the world abroad
Than, living dully sluggardized at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.

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 was raised to feel that doing nothing was a sin. I had to
learn to do nothing.

I was raised to feel that doing nothing was a sin. I had to
learn to do nothing.

Idleness is many gathered miseries in one name.

Idleness is many gathered miseries in one name.

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?

As peace is the end of war, so to be idle is the ultimate purpose of the busy.

As peace is the end of war, so to be idle is the ultimate purpose of the busy.

Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is
corrupted unless it moves.
[Lat., Cernis ut read more

Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is
corrupted unless it moves.
[Lat., Cernis ut ignavum corrumpant otia corpus
Ut capiant vitium ni moveantur aquae.]

The condition of perfection is idleness: the aim of perfection is youth.

The condition of perfection is idleness: the aim of perfection is youth.