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.

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

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

He does not seem to me to be a free man who does not sometimes do nothing.

He does not seem to me to be a free man who does not sometimes do nothing.

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.]

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.

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

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

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.]

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?

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.