--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The self can watch itself becoming lazy…" description: "\"“The self can watch itself becoming lazy, or non-watchful; this is an asset that can make both for humor and profound well-being.”\" — Eli Siegel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/eli-siegel-21460_character_the-self-can-watch-itself-becoming-lazy_726319.jpg" --- # The self can watch itself becoming lazy, or non-watchful… ![“The self can watch itself becoming lazy, or non-watchful; this is an asset that can make both for humor and profound well-being.” quote by Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/eli-siegel-21460_character_the-self-can-watch-itself-becoming-lazy_726319.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/eli-siegel-21460_character_the-self-can-watch-itself-becoming-lazy_726319.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/eli-siegel-21460_character_the-self-can-watch-itself-becoming-lazy_726319.jpg) > ““The self can watch itself becoming lazy, or non-watchful; this is an asset that can make both for humor and profound well-being.”” [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing one's own laziness can become a source of humor and deep well‑being if recognized as a useful insight. **In simple terms:** Noticing laziness can be funny and healthy. Key Takeaway Use self‑observation to turn laziness into insight. Themes self‑awareness humor well‑being Mood reflective lighthearted Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - stress relief - creative work - mindful meditation Key Concepts mindfulness psychology self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn noticing laziness into constructive change? - What humor can you find in your own habits? A Different Perspective Self‑observation may lead to complacency if not acted upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) ## Related quotes > [I have to watch out for being lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-faithfull/i-have-to-watch-out-for-being-lazy/) [Marianne Faithfull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-faithfull/) > [The biggest trap, the biggest dungeon in life isn't laziness or bad luck, it's comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-biggest-trap-the-biggest-dungeon-in-life-isn-t-laziness-or-bad/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Some women just skip having babies or adopt because they don't want to get fat or they haven't put in the time to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-pressly/some-women-just-skip-having-babies-or-adopt-because-they-don-t-want/) [Jaime Pressly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-pressly/) > [A successful relationship requires a lot of work, unfortunately some people aren't always willing to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/a-successful-relationship-requires-a-lot-of-work-unfortunately-some/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Don't you dare take the lazy way. It's too easy to excuse yourself because of your ancestry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/don-t-you-dare-take-the-lazy-way-it-s-too-easy-to-excuse-yourself/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The biggest part of painting perhaps is faith, and waiting receptively, content to go any way, not planning or forcing. The fear, though, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/the-biggest-part-of-painting-perhaps-is-faith-and-waiting-receptively/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Prostration is our natural position. A worm-like movement from a spot of sunlight to a spot of shade, and back, is the type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/prostration-is-our-natural-position-a-worm-like-movement-from-a-spot/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [I think that laziness in many ways is the human condition, and that's what has led us to this place where, as we've developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-think-that-laziness-in-many-ways-is-the-human-condition-and-that-s/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [Procrastination isn't patience. It's a sign of laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/procrastination-isn-t-patience-it-s-a-sign-of-laziness/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [The unpreparedness of the educated classes, the lack of practical links between them and the mass of the people, their laziness, and, let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/the-unpreparedness-of-the-educated-classes-the-lack-of-practical/) [Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## More by Eli Siegel > [There is not one thing that music does which does not say something about how a person should organize himself, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/there-is-not-one-thing-that-music-does-which-does-not-say-something/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [“The most important thing in industry is the person who does the industry, which is the worker…. Labor is the only source of wealth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/the-most-important-thing-in-industry-is-the-person-who-does-the/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [There is a quality of murky grandeur we give ourselves in having our own feelings, recoiling, separate from other things... To feel that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/there-is-a-quality-of-murky-grandeur-we-give-ourselves-in-having-our/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [The purpose of photography is to create an emotion about the world through what has been carefully seen and selected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/the-purpose-of-photography-is-to-create-an-emotion-about-the-world/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [To see the outside world as the same stuff as our most secret or unknown thoughts is a fine necessity...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/to-see-the-outside-world-as-the-same-stuff-as-our-most-secret-or/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [The world, art, and self explain each other: each is the aesthetic oneness of opposites,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/the-world-art-and-self-explain-each-other-each-is-the-aesthetic/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [True individuality is the repose arising from the relation of a self to all it has to do with. Bad individuality has in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/true-individuality-is-the-repose-arising-from-the-relation-of-a-self/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [One of the things called forth by the Imagist movement in poetry was neatness; and when we say keenness, we mean neatness. A knife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/one-of-the-things-called-forth-by-the-imagist-movement-in-poetry-was/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [Is there in every work of art something which shows reality as one and also something which shows reality as many and diverse? -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/is-there-in-every-work-of-art-something-which-shows-reality-as-one/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [In reality opposites are one; art shows this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/in-reality-opposites-are-one-art-shows-this/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [All beauty is a making one of opposites, and the making one of opposites is what we are going after in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/all-beauty-is-a-making-one-of-opposites-and-the-making-one-of/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [In order to be deep, we sometimes have to cut through and cut apart. That is to be seen in the common phrase, 'Cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/in-order-to-be-deep-we-sometimes-have-to-cut-through-and-cut-apart/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [The most important thing for you to do is see that in hoping to be affected by other things as fully as possible, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/the-most-important-thing-for-you-to-do-is-see-that-in-hoping-to-be/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [Art is a way of showing greater fairness to things than is customary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/art-is-a-way-of-showing-greater-fairness-to-things-than-is-customary/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) > [We should see the desire for neatness, the desire for sharp impressions, as a desire in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-siegel/we-should-see-the-desire-for-neatness-the-desire-for-sharp/) [Eli Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) [Explore all 29 Eli Siegel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-siegel/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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