--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leisure is time for doing something…" description: "\"Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/benjamin-franklin-65_diligence_leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-usef_3075232.png" --- # Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure… ![“Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/benjamin-franklin-65_diligence_leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-usef_3075232.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/benjamin-franklin-65_diligence_leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-usef_3075232.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/benjamin-franklin-65_diligence_leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-usef_3075232.png) > “Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leisure should be productive; the diligent benefit, the lazy miss out. **In simple terms:** Use free time wisely to gain benefits. Key Takeaway Make leisure time productive. Themes productivity leisure work ethic Mood motivational pragmatic Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - career development - personal projects - skill building - health routines - creative hobbies Key Concepts time management self-improvement motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance rest and productivity? - What activities feel both restful and useful? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on productivity can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diligence/) [Lazy man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazy-man/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Leisure Diligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure-diligent-3285018/) [Leisure time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Useful Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful-leisure-3285019/) ## Related quotes > [Leisure is the time for doing something useful. This leisure the diligent person will obtain the lazy one never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/leisure-is-the-time-for-doing-something-useful-this-leisure-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Some people get the impression that Buddhism talks too much about suffering. In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/some-people-get-the-impression-that-buddhism-talks-too-much-about/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If the use of leisure time is confined to looking at TV for a few extra hours every day, we will deteriorate as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/if-the-use-of-leisure-time-is-confined-to-looking-at-tv-for-a-few/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Sexuality is not a leisure or part-time activity. It is a way of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/sexuality-is-not-a-leisure-or-part-time-activity-it-is-a-way-of-being/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [When you're at work, be fully at work. And let your leisure time be what it's meant to be - restorative and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/when-you-re-at-work-be-fully-at-work-and-let-your-leisure-time-be/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [In the year 2000 you're going to have a problem...Leisure time will be a problem in the year 2000. I just want you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-sedgwick/in-the-year-2000-you-re-going-to-have-a-problem-leisure-time-will-be/) [Edie Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-sedgwick/) > [In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-order-to-become-prosperous-a-person-must-initially-work-very-hard/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [It's not a man's working hours that is important, it is how he spends his leisure time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/it-s-not-a-man-s-working-hours-that-is-important-it-is-how-he-spends/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“To resist the social pressure now put even on one's leisure time, requires a tougher upbringing and a more obstinate willfulness about going one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/to-resist-the-social-pressure-now-put-even-on-one-s-leisure-time/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Beauty, my first girlfriend said to me, is that inner quality often associated with great amounts of leisure time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/beauty-my-first-girlfriend-said-to-me-is-that-inner-quality-often/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [If adults are not enjoying something they're doing in their leisure time, they should stop doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/if-adults-are-not-enjoying-something-they-re-doing-in-their-leisure/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [The real problem of leisure time is how to keep others from using yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lacey/the-real-problem-of-leisure-time-is-how-to-keep-others-from-using/) [Arthur Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lacey/) > [We should abolish 'work.' By that I mean abolishing the distinction between work and leisure, one of the greatest mistakes of the last century,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-zeldin/we-should-abolish-work-by-that-i-mean-abolishing-the-distinction/) [Theodore Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-zeldin/) > [Nobody can live in society without conventions. The reason why sensible people are as conventional as they can bear to be is that conventionality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-live-in-society-without-conventions-the-reason-why/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Leisure time is that five or six hours when you sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen-sr/leisure-time-is-that-five-or-six-hours-when-you-sleep-at-night/) [George Allen, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen-sr/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Diligence quotes > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [She spent hours drawing on her own, trying to perfect her craft. And when she got into music, she had that same diligence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/she-spent-hours-drawing-on-her-own-trying-to-perfect-her-craft-and/) [Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/) > [Watch yourself with all diligence, lest the enemy steals near and robs you, depriving you of this great treasure, which is inner peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-scupoli/watch-yourself-with-all-diligence-lest-the-enemy-steals-near-and-robs/) [Lorenzo Scupoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-scupoli/) > [“Diligence does not work if there is a lack of innate talent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/diligence-does-not-work-if-there-is-a-lack-of-innate-talent/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [We study health, and we deliberate upon our meats and drink and air and exercises, and we hew and we polish every stone that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/we-study-health-and-we-deliberate-upon-our-meats-and-drink-and-air/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [In the corporate world, if you have analysts, due diligence, and no horse sense, you've just described hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/in-the-corporate-world-if-you-have-analysts-due-diligence-and-no/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [LAOCOON, n. A famous piece of antique scripture representing a priest of that name and his two sons in the folds of two enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/laocoon-n-a-famous-piece-of-antique-scripture-representing-a-priest/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in. and the best of me is diligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-which-ordinary-men-are-fit-for-i-am-qualified-in-and-the-best-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [ If he \[Thomas Edison\] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/if-he-thomas-edison-had-a-needle-to-find-in-a-haystack-he-would-not/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Building our homes as fortresses of righteousness for protection from the world takes constant labor and diligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/building-our-homes-as-fortresses-of-righteousness-for-protection-from/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [People underestimate the importance of dilligence as a virtue. No doubt it has something to do with how supremely mundane it seems. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/people-underestimate-the-importance-of-dilligence-as-a-virtue-no/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [What the world needs is not dogma but an attitude of scientific inquiry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/what-the-world-needs-is-not-dogma-but-an-attitude-of-scientific/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Go out of the house to see the moon, and 't is mere tinsel; it will not please as when its light shines upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/go-out-of-the-house-to-see-the-moon-and-t-is-mere-tinsel-it-will-not/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 360 Diligence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diligence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-useful-this-leisure-the-diligent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Diligence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-useful-this-leisure-the-diligent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/benjamin-franklin-65_diligence_leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-usef_3075232.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/benjamin-franklin-65_diligence_leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-usef_3075232.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/benjamin-franklin-65_diligence_leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-usef_3075232.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never.” — Benjamin Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Leisure is time for doing something...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-useful-this-leisure-the-diligent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/leisure-is-time-for-doing-something-useful-this-leisure-the-diligent/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```