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.

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.

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.

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible

Idleness is the parent of all psychology

Idleness is the parent of all psychology

Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and governments.

Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and governments.

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.]

All intellectual improvement arises from leisure

All intellectual improvement arises from leisure

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?