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?

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

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

Thus idly busy rolls their world away.

Thus idly busy rolls their world away.

Work is no disgrace: it is idleness which is a disgrace

Work is no disgrace: it is idleness which is a disgrace

Evil thoughts often come from idleness.

Evil thoughts often come from 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.

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time,
which every day produces, and which most read more

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time,
which every day produces, and which most men throw away, but
which nevertheless will make at the end of it no small deduction
for the life of man.

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...