How various his employments whom the world
Calls idle; and who justly in return
Esteems that busy read more

How various his employments whom the world
Calls idle; and who justly in return
Esteems that busy world an idler too!

Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease.

Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease.

Idleness is the parent of all psychology

Idleness is the parent of all psychology

An idler is a watch that wants both hands;
As useless if it goes as when it stands.

An idler is a watch that wants both hands;
As useless if it goes as when it stands.

Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is
corrupted unless it moves.
[Lat., Cernis ut read more

Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is
corrupted unless it moves.
[Lat., Cernis ut ignavum corrumpant otia corpus
Ut capiant vitium ni moveantur aquae.]

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.

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?

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

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

Idleness, sorrow, a friend, and a foe.

Idleness, sorrow, a friend, and a foe.