--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Idleness is a great enemy to mankind…" description: "\"Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend like energy, for, if you cultivate that, it will never fail.\" — Bhartrhari" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/bhartrhari-25321_enemy_idleness-is-a-great-enemy-to-mankind-the_1320735.png" --- # Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend… ![“Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend like energy, for, if you cultivate that, it will never fail.” quote by Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/bhartrhari-25321_enemy_idleness-is-a-great-enemy-to-mankind-the_1320735.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/bhartrhari-25321_enemy_idleness-is-a-great-enemy-to-mankind-the_1320735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/bhartrhari-25321_enemy_idleness-is-a-great-enemy-to-mankind-the_1320735.png) > “Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend like energy, for, if you cultivate that, it will never fail.” [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idle time wastes potential; energy fuels progress. **In simple terms:** Energy beats idleness. Key Takeaway Cultivate constant activity. Themes productivity energy philosophy Mood reflective energetic Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - workplace efficiency - personal health - creative projects Key Concepts self‑discipline motivation Questions to Reflect On - What activities energize you? - How do you balance rest and action? A Different Perspective Rest is also necessary for sustainable output. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) ## Related quotes > [Idleness is the great plague of India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/idleness-is-the-great-plague-of-india/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I want to be distinguished from the rest; to tell the truth, a friend to all mankind is not a friend for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-want-to-be-distinguished-from-the-rest-to-tell-the-truth-a-friend/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Among true and real friends, all is common; and were ignorance and envy and superstition banished from the world, all mankind would be friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/among-true-and-real-friends-all-is-common-and-were-ignorance-and-envy/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Positive feelings and deeds feed our minds and hearts like energy. If we don't have this form of energy, we can't feel good about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/positive-feelings-and-deeds-feed-our-minds-and-hearts-like-energy-if/) Senoraroy > [Life is a phenomenon sui generis, a primal fact in its own right, like energy. Cut flesh or wood how you like, hack at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-c-peattie/life-is-a-phenomenon-sui-generis-a-primal-fact-in-its-own-right-like/) [Donald C. 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Like any other energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-you-love-someone-when-you-create-a-child-with-him-you-don-t-just/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More by Bhartrhari > [The constant man loses not his virtue in misfortune. A torch may point towards the ground, but its flame will still point upwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-constant-man-loses-not-his-virtue-in-misfortune-a-torch-may-point/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [The good man shuns evil and follows good; he keeps secret that which ought to be hidden; he makes his virtues manifest to all;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-good-man-shuns-evil-and-follows-good-he-keeps-secret-that-which/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Trees loaded with fruit are bent down; the clouds when charged with fresh rain hang down near the earth: even so good men are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/trees-loaded-with-fruit-are-bent-down-the-clouds-when-charged-with/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Those who possess that treasure which no thief can take away, Which, though on suppliants freely spent, increaseth day by day, The source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/those-who-possess-that-treasure-which-no-thief-can-take-away-which/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Trees bend low with ripened fruit; clouds hang down with gentle rain; noble people bow graciously. This is the way of generous things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/trees-bend-low-with-ripened-fruit-clouds-hang-down-with-gentle-rain/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Kindness can turn the bad man's heart, and fools convert to wise, Make poison into nectar-juice, and friends of enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/kindness-can-turn-the-bad-man-s-heart-and-fools-convert-to-wise-make/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Our life is like th' unstable wave, Our bloom of youth decays. Our joys are brief as lightning flash In summer's cloudy days, Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/our-life-is-like-th-unstable-wave-our-bloom-of-youth-decays-our-joys/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [The pearl on my beloved's neck, Afflicted sore the oyster!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-pearl-on-my-beloved-s-neck-afflicted-sore-the-oyster/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Man is but a beast without it: such a glorious god is Learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/man-is-but-a-beast-without-it-such-a-glorious-god-is-learning/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [What is the most profitable? Fellowship with the good. What is the worst thing in the world? The society of evil men. What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/what-is-the-most-profitable-fellowship-with-the-good-what-is-the/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Knowledge is wonderful and truth serene But man in their service bleeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/knowledge-is-wonderful-and-truth-serene-but-man-in-their-service/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Three courses open lie to wealth, to give, enjoy, or lose, Who shrinketh from the former two, perforce the third doth choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/three-courses-open-lie-to-wealth-to-give-enjoy-or-lose-who-shrinketh/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [For a moment man is a boy, for a moment a lovesick youth, for a moment bereft of wealth, for a moment in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/for-a-moment-man-is-a-boy-for-a-moment-a-lovesick-youth-for-a-moment/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [There is no medicine to cure a fool!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/there-is-no-medicine-to-cure-a-fool/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Fate's sentence written on the brow no hand can e'er efface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/fate-s-sentence-written-on-the-brow-no-hand-can-e-er-efface/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) [Explore all 23 Bhartrhari quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? 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The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. 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