Idle Pursuits Quotes

It is awfully hard work doing nothing. However, I don't mind hard work when there is no definite object of any kind. To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing.

There is really nothing left to a genuine idle man, who possesses any considerable degree of vital power, but sin.

Curiosity in children, is but an appetite for knowledge. The great reason why children abandon themselves wholly to silly pursuits and trifle away their time insipidly is, because they find their curiosity balked, and their inquiries neglected.

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

Personally I regard idling as a virtue, but civilized society holds otherwise.

How these curiosities would be quite forgot, did not such idle fellowes as I put them down.

O Laziness, mother of the arts and noble virtues, be thou the balm of human anguish.

Idleness is sweet, and its consequences are cruel.

Why will you be always sallying out to break lances with other people's wind-mills, when your own is not capable of grinding corn for the horse you ride?

Stuffing birds or playing stringed instruments is an elegant pastime, and a resource to the idle, but it is not education.

To do nothing and get something, formed a boy's ideal of a manly career.

Visits are insatiable devourers of time, and fit only for those who, if they did not that, would do nothing.

Work alone isn't enough for me and mine; we know how to break our backs, but the great dream Of my fathers was to be good at doing nothing.

It occurs to me it is not so much the aim of the devil to lure me with evil as it is to preoccupy me with the meaningless.

There is always a temptation to diddle around in the contemplative life, making itsy-bitsy statues.

I can say that I don't have a lot of leisure time, just sitting around doing absolutely nothing, but that's okay.

Every man is, or hopes to be, an idler.

There are men here and there to whom the whole of life is like an after-dinner hour with a cigar; easy, pleasant, empty, perhaps enlivened by some fable of strife to be forgotten - before the end is told - even if there happens to be any end to it.

I rather like the idea of having all my hours to myself: eating a Fudge Sundae, watching a movie, sleeping on my couch, singing in the bathroom, studying the woods, kidding around with a girl, playing cards lazily - all kinds of stuff that American brands 'shiftless.'

There are three sorts of pleasures which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Finding pleasure in the discriminating study of ceremonies and music, finding pleasure in discussing the good points in the conduct of others, and finding pleasure in having many wise friends, these are advantageous. But finding pleasure in profligate enjoyments, finding pleasure in idle gadding about, and finding pleasure in feasting, these are injurious.