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.

…for when men labor they keep out of mischief. You remember the old proverb--An idle mind is the Devils workshop...

…for when men labor they keep out of mischief. You remember the old proverb--An idle mind is the Devils workshop...

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.]

Gloomy calm of idle vacancy.

Gloomy calm of idle vacancy.

In the diligence of his idleness.
[Lat., Diligenter per vacuitatem suam.]

In the diligence of his idleness.
[Lat., Diligenter per vacuitatem suam.]

There is no remedy for time misspent;
No healing for the waste of idleness,
Whose very languor read more

There is no remedy for time misspent;
No healing for the waste of idleness,
Whose very languor is a punishment
Heavier than active souls can feel or guess.

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.
[Lat., Difficultas patrocinia praeteximus segnitiae.]

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.
[Lat., Difficultas patrocinia praeteximus segnitiae.]

Indolence is the sleep of the mind.
[Fr., L'indolence est le sommeil des esprits.]

Indolence is the sleep of the mind.
[Fr., L'indolence est le sommeil des esprits.]

Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen.

Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen.