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.

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

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

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

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

You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by. Yes, but some of them are golden only read more

You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by. Yes, but some of them are golden only because we let them slip.

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.

I don't think necessity is the mother of invention -- invention . . . arises directly from idleness, possibly also read more

I don't think necessity is the mother of invention -- invention . . . arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble.

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

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

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

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