--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a soldier complains of his hard life…" description: "\"When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer, etc.) try giving him nothing to do.\" — Blaise Pascal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/blaise-pascal-167_complaining_when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-lif_3091403.jpg" --- # When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer… ![“When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer, etc.) try giving him nothing to do.” quote by Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/blaise-pascal-167_complaining_when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-lif_3091403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/blaise-pascal-167_complaining_when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-lif_3091403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/blaise-pascal-167_complaining_when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-lif_3091403.jpg) > “When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer, etc.) try giving him nothing to do.” [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who complain about hardship may find relief when given no tasks, highlighting the paradox of freedom and responsibility. **In simple terms:** Giving nothing can ease suffering. Key Takeaway Offer rest, not more work. Themes responsibility freedom paradox compassion Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - workplace stress - military fatigue - personal burnout - volunteerism Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - Is idleness a cure or a new problem? - How does purpose affect suffering? A Different Perspective May lead to idleness or loss of purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaining/) [Complains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complains/) [Complains Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complains-hard-3954002/) [Etc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/etc/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hard life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-life/) [Labourer Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labourer-try-5317129/) [Labourers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labourers/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Complains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-complains-5317128/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-reads-and-grows-no-wiser-seldom-suspects-his-own-deficiency/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If a soldier or labourer complain of the hardship of his lot, set him to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-a-soldier-or-labourer-complain-of-the-hardship-of-his-lot-set-him/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Don't accommodate complains in your chamber, else you have a sleepless and restless night. Keep them away and fall in love with actions for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-accommodate-complains-in-your-chamber-else-you-have-a-sleepless/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Everyone complains about the weather, but nobody ever seems to do anything about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-scott/everyone-complains-about-the-weather-but-nobody-ever-seems-to-do/) [Willard Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-scott/) > [He whines, he complains, he ducks out of the most obvious responsibility. He is vain, petty and maddening, but he doesn't ever quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/he-whines-he-complains-he-ducks-out-of-the-most-obvious/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [Stop Complaining . A person who complains constantly sees only the bad things that are happening around him or her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/stop-complaining-a-person-who-complains-constantly-sees-only-the-bad/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [The poet complains or points out the discontent that lies at the heart of man, the individual man, and how can that be redeemed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/the-poet-complains-or-points-out-the-discontent-that-lies-at-the/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [Patience is the virtue of an ass, who treads beneath his burden and complains not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-granville-1st-baron-lansdowne/patience-is-the-virtue-of-an-ass-who-treads-beneath-his-burden-and/) [George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-granville-1st-baron-lansdowne/) > [“People that complains all the time about problems are the one's that need to fix there problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-farrag/people-that-complains-all-the-time-about-problems-are-the-one-s-that/) [Ahmed Farrag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-farrag/) > [Why is it that everyone complains about math I mean what about history and gym I mean those classes suck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-fonner/why-is-it-that-everyone-complains-about-math-i-mean-what-about/) [Drew Fonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-fonner/) > [The worst person to be around is the one who complains about everything and appreciates nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-person-to-be-around-is-the-one-who-complains-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Who the fuck complains about going to Harry Potter World? Or Butter Beer? Or wands?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/who-the-fuck-complains-about-going-to-harry-potter-world-or-butter/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“Everyone complains about their children. I wonder, and not just to be argumentative: if children are such a pain in the ass, why have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amara-lakhous/everyone-complains-about-their-children-i-wonder-and-not-just-to-be/) [Amara Lakhous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amara-lakhous/) > [A good man complains of no one; he does not look to faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-good-man-complains-of-no-one-he-does-not-look-to-faults/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Seems like EVERYONE complains about fake people, so if everyone is being let down, has anyone stopped to think who really is doing it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seems-like-everyone-complains-about-fake-people-so-if-everyone-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Blaise Pascal > [“Do they think that they have given us great pleasure by telling us that they hold our soul to be no more than wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/do-they-think-that-they-have-given-us-great-pleasure-by-telling-us/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, the geometricians alone attain it, and apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-method-of-not-erring-is-sought-by-all-the-world-the-logicians/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-we-read-too-fast-or-too-slowly-we-understand-nothing/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Mahomet established a religion by putting his enemies to death; Jesus Christ by commanding his followers to lay down their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/mahomet-established-a-religion-by-putting-his-enemies-to-death-jesus/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Reflect on death as in Jesus Christ, not as without Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ it is dreadful, it is alarming, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/reflect-on-death-as-in-jesus-christ-not-as-without-jesus-christ/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/happiness-can-be-found-neither-in-ourselves-nor-in-external-things/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Rivers are highways that move on and bear us whither we wish to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/rivers-are-highways-that-move-on-and-bear-us-whither-we-wish-to-go/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [We desire truth, and find within ourselves only uncertainty. We seek happiness, and find only misery and death. We cannot but desire truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-desire-truth-and-find-within-ourselves-only-uncertainty-we-seek/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Vanity is illustrated in the cause and effect of love, as in the case of Cleopatra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/vanity-is-illustrated-in-the-cause-and-effect-of-love-as-in-the-case/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“There is no denying it; one must admit that there is something astonishing about Christianity. 'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Imagination is the deceptive part in man, the mistress of error and falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/imagination-is-the-deceptive-part-in-man-the-mistress-of-error-and/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The majority is the best way, because it is visible, and has strength to make itself obeyed. Yet it is the opinion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-majority-is-the-best-way-because-it-is-visible-and-has-strength/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Explore all 988 Blaise Pascal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) ## More Complaining quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I was so drunk last night I fell down and missed the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-was-so-drunk-last-night-i-fell-down-and-missed-the-floor/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [Once the war began, the government could do anything 'necessary' to win it; so it was with the 'final solution of the Jewish problem,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-mayer/once-the-war-began-the-government-could-do-anything-necessary-to-win/) [Milton Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-mayer/) > [I'll tell you that the dog whistle politics is badly missing the mark. Because, you know, as I've been speaking about it, sure, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naheed-nenshi/i-ll-tell-you-that-the-dog-whistle-politics-is-badly-missing-the-mark/) [Naheed Nenshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naheed-nenshi/) [Browse all 1,994 Complaining quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaining/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer, etc.) try giving him nothing to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Blaise Pascal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-life-or-a-labourer-etc-try/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Complaining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-life-or-a-labourer-etc-try/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/blaise-pascal-167_complaining_when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-lif_3091403.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/blaise-pascal-167_complaining_when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-lif_3091403.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/blaise-pascal-167_complaining_when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-lif_3091403.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer, etc.) try giving him nothing to do.” — Blaise Pascal", "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": "Blaise Pascal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When a soldier complains of his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-life-or-a-labourer-etc-try/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-a-soldier-complains-of-his-hard-life-or-a-labourer-etc-try/#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 } } ] } ```