--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are times when one is tempted to…" description: "\"There are times when one is tempted to say that the great, sprawling, lethargic sin of Sloth is the oldest and greatest of the sins and the parent of a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/dorothy-l-sayers-738_lethargic_there-are-times-when-one-is-tempted-to-s_1518292.jpg" --- # There are times when one is tempted to say that the great… ![“There are times when one is tempted to say that the great, sprawling, lethargic sin of Sloth is the oldest and greatest of the sins and the parent of all the rest.” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/dorothy-l-sayers-738_lethargic_there-are-times-when-one-is-tempted-to-s_1518292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/dorothy-l-sayers-738_lethargic_there-are-times-when-one-is-tempted-to-s_1518292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/dorothy-l-sayers-738_lethargic_there-are-times-when-one-is-tempted-to-s_1518292.jpg) > “There are times when one is tempted to say that the great, sprawling, lethargic sin of Sloth is the oldest and greatest of the sins and the parent of all the rest.” [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that Sloth is the root sin, spawning others through inactivity. **In simple terms:** Sloth breeds other sins. Key Takeaway Combat laziness to prevent further vices. Themes virtue moral philosophy human behavior Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace productivity - personal development - spiritual practice - habit formation Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does inactivity lead to other negative habits? - What practices keep you active and purposeful? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on sloth may ignore other sin dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lethargic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lethargic/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sloth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sloth/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The war has jerked us pretty sharply into consciousness about this slug-a-bed sin of Sloth, and perhaps we need not say too much about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-war-has-jerked-us-pretty-sharply-into-consciousness-about-this/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“In the Middle Ages, the sin of sloth had two forms,” he said. “One was paralysis, the inability to do anything—what we would see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-schulte/in-the-middle-ages-the-sin-of-sloth-had-two-forms-he-said-one-was/) [Brigid Schulte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-schulte/) > [Pastors are highly susceptible to the sin of sloth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/pastors-are-highly-susceptible-to-the-sin-of-sloth/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Unbelief is the greatest of sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/unbelief-is-the-greatest-of-sins/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Can that which is the greatest virtue in philosophy, doubt (called by Galileo the father of invention), be in religion what the priests term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/can-that-which-is-the-greatest-virtue-in-philosophy-doubt-called-by/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Ugliness is the greatest of all sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-l-peretz/ugliness-is-the-greatest-of-all-sins/) [I. L. Peretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-l-peretz/) > [“One of mankind’s greatest sins is inaction in the face of injustice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kramer/one-of-mankind-s-greatest-sins-is-inaction-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [John Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kramer/) > [Lying is the greatest of all sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-nobel/lying-is-the-greatest-of-all-sins/) [Alfred Nobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-nobel/) > [While we fight and argue about abortion and sexual orientation, we apparently forgot one of the greatest sins that God continuously acknowledges He hates:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/while-we-fight-and-argue-about-abortion-and-sexual-orientation-we/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [It turns out that speeding irresponsibly in a large truck, placing personal wealth ahead of the welfare of others, is one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/it-turns-out-that-speeding-irresponsibly-in-a-large-truck-placing/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The greatest of all sins is stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-greatest-of-all-sins-is-stupidity/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Nile perch are enormous but lethargic fish, easy to catch once they have taken your bait. Some are bright golden yellow, some grey pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuki-gallmann/nile-perch-are-enormous-but-lethargic-fish-easy-to-catch-once-they/) Kuki Gallmann > [I include lots of nutrients like Omega 3 fish oils in my diet, which work wonders for my skin, hair and nails. I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sussanne-khan/i-include-lots-of-nutrients-like-omega-3-fish-oils-in-my-diet-which/) [Sussanne Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sussanne-khan/) > [Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic and shrink from what they were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse-grow-lethargic-and-shrink/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The Germans, in the age of Tacitus, were unacquainted with the use of letters; and the use of letters is the principal circumstance that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-germans-in-the-age-of-tacitus-were-unacquainted-with-the-use-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More by Dorothy L. Sayers > [“The really essential factors of success in any undertaking are money and opportunity, and as a rule, the man who can make the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-really-essential-factors-of-success-in-any-undertaking-are-money/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“ Peter! Were you looking for a horse-shoe?" "No; I was expecting the horse, but the shoe is a piece of pure, gorgeous luck."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/peter-were-you-looking-for-a-horse-shoe-no-i-was-expecting-the-horse/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [ “See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. \[That\] the fundamental treason to the mind ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-rest-may-follow-or-not-as-god/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [But it is the mark of all movements, however well-intentioned, that their pioneers tend, by much lashing of themselves into excitement, to lose sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/but-it-is-the-mark-of-all-movements-however-well-intentioned-that/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [One must not only die daily, but every day we must be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/one-must-not-only-die-daily-but-every-day-we-must-be-born-again/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“By teaching them all to read, we have left them at the mercy of the printed word. By the invention of the film and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/by-teaching-them-all-to-read-we-have-left-them-at-the-mercy-of-the/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [ Perhaps \[the critics are right and\] the drama is played out now and Jesus is safely dead and buried. Perhaps. It is ironical and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/perhaps-the-critics-are-right-and-the-drama-is-played-out-now-and/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [... at no point have I yet found artistic truth and theological truth at variance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/at-no-point-have-i-yet-found-artistic-truth-and-theological-truth-at/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I have never yet heard any middle-aged man or woman who worked with his or her brains express any regret for the passing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/i-have-never-yet-heard-any-middle-aged-man-or-woman-who-worked-with/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“That was the second time within five minutes that he had warned her off his private ground. His mood had changed since the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/that-was-the-second-time-within-five-minutes-that-he-had-warned-her/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“To obey orders in this family has been my privilege for the last twenty years--a privilege which has been an unqualified pleasure, except perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/to-obey-orders-in-this-family-has-been-my-privilege-for-the-last/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Those who make some other person their job... are dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/those-who-make-some-other-person-their-job-are-dangerous/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“Yes, and look at the corpses. Place always reminds me of that old thing in Punch, you know—‘Waiter, take away Lord Whatsisname, he’s been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/yes-and-look-at-the-corpses-place-always-reminds-me-of-that-old-thing/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) [Explore all 386 Dorothy L. Sayers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) ## More Lethargic quotes > [Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic and shrink from what they were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse-grow-lethargic-and-shrink/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I include lots of nutrients like Omega 3 fish oils in my diet, which work wonders for my skin, hair and nails. I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sussanne-khan/i-include-lots-of-nutrients-like-omega-3-fish-oils-in-my-diet-which/) [Sussanne Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sussanne-khan/) > [Nile perch are enormous but lethargic fish, easy to catch once they have taken your bait. Some are bright golden yellow, some grey pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuki-gallmann/nile-perch-are-enormous-but-lethargic-fish-easy-to-catch-once-they/) Kuki Gallmann > [The Germans, in the age of Tacitus, were unacquainted with the use of letters; and the use of letters is the principal circumstance that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-germans-in-the-age-of-tacitus-were-unacquainted-with-the-use-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“Don't wait to pursue your future and end up letting society chew you up and spit you out to the rest of the lethargic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-greathouse/don-t-wait-to-pursue-your-future-and-end-up-letting-society-chew-you/) Brittany Greathouse > [My appointed work is to awaken the divine nature that is within. This is my calling, to open doors of truth and make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/my-appointed-work-is-to-awaken-the-divine-nature-that-is-within-this/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [The people are not always well-informed, but is better that they have misconceptions that make them restless than that they be lethargic-for lethargy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-people-are-not-always-well-informed-but-is-better-that-they-have/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“man was born to live either in a state of distracting inquietude or of lethargic disgust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/man-was-born-to-live-either-in-a-state-of-distracting-inquietude-or/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Nothing should be overlooked in fighting for better education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-wilkins/nothing-should-be-overlooked-in-fighting-for-better-education/) [Roy Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-wilkins/) > [The mornings themselves were becoming bad now as I wandered about lethargic, following my synthetic sleep, but afternoons were still the worst, beginning at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/the-mornings-themselves-were-becoming-bad-now-as-i-wandered-about/) [William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/) > [I'm kind of lethargic in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/i-m-kind-of-lethargic-in-real-life/) [Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/) > [In Nigeria, there is energy, whether it is Lagos, which is sheer anarchy, but it is not lethargic. It is strong, even aggressive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-nigeria-there-is-energy-whether-it-is-lagos-which-is-sheer-anarchy/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [The vigorous man industriously striving for the improvement of his condition acts neither more nor less than the lethargic man who sluggishly takes things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-vigorous-man-industriously-striving-for-the-improvement-of-his/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [You lethargic, waiting upon me, waiting for the fire and I attendant upon you, shaken by your beauty Shaken by your beauty Shaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/you-lethargic-waiting-upon-me-waiting-for-the-fire-and-i-attendant/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [What I learned about them, I liked. But it also seemed that the liberal line was not entirely correct, for it was obvious that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/what-i-learned-about-them-i-liked-but-it-also-seemed-that-the-liberal/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) [Browse all 32 Lethargic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lethargic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are times when one is tempted to say that the great, sprawling, lethargic sin of Sloth is the oldest and greatest of the sins and the parent of all the rest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothy L. 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