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.

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.

For idleness is an appendix to nobility.

For idleness is an appendix to nobility.

Idleness is the only refuge of weak minds, and the holiday of fools

Idleness is the only refuge of weak minds, and the holiday of fools

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

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

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible

Purity of mind and idleness are incompatible

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

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

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

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