proverb · Words worth keeping
Of idleness comes no goodness.
Of idleness comes no goodness.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Avoiding a worthwhile task can leave its benefits unrealised. The sweeping wording should be limited to neglect, rather than applied to every period of rest.
Example
A student notices that repeatedly avoiding a manageable first step is preventing progress and begins that step after a needed break.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The saying denies any good result from idleness. A careful reading asks whether someone is postponing a task they have reason and ability to do. Time without visible production may also allow recovery, thought or care that others fail to notice. It is therefore useful to identify the actual omission and its consequences instead of treating constant activity as the measure of a person’s worth.
When to use it
Use it to examine avoidance of a worthwhile, feasible task.
Keep in mind
Rest and unstructured time can be valuable; activity is not the sole measure of worth.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English