--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know of nothing that is so degenerating…" description: "\"I know of nothing that is so degenerating and so dangerous as idleness, for the brain will seek out mischief.\" — Francis M. Lyman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/francis-m-lyman-47407_brain_i-know-of-nothing-that-is-so-degeneratin_974916.jpg" --- # I know of nothing that is so degenerating and so dangerous… ![“I know of nothing that is so degenerating and so dangerous as idleness, for the brain will seek out mischief.” quote by Francis M. Lyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/francis-m-lyman-47407_brain_i-know-of-nothing-that-is-so-degeneratin_974916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/francis-m-lyman-47407_brain_i-know-of-nothing-that-is-so-degeneratin_974916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/francis-m-lyman-47407_brain_i-know-of-nothing-that-is-so-degeneratin_974916.jpg) > “I know of nothing that is so degenerating and so dangerous as idleness, for the brain will seek out mischief.” [Francis M. Lyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-m-lyman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idleness breeds decay; the mind seeks mischief when idle, so purposeful activity is essential. **In simple terms:** Idleness leads to decay and mischief. Key Takeaway Stay active and purposeful. Themes idleness mind decay purpose activity Mood motivational practical Type self‑help ethical When to use this quote - workplace - personal development - community service - creative projects Key Concepts psychology of boredom moral discipline productivity Questions to Reflect On - What productive habits counteract idleness? - How can we balance rest and activity? A Different Perspective Excessive activity can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-idleness-1899005/) [Degenerating Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degenerating-dangerous-1899008/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Idleness Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness-brain-1899006/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Mischief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mischief/) [Seek Mischief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-mischief-1899007/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing more dangerous than idleness...In labor there is salvation; in labor there is safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-m-lyman/there-is-nothing-more-dangerous-than-idleness-in-labor-there-is/) [Francis M. Lyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-m-lyman/) > [“Work never hurt anyone. It's idleness that causes mischief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-corrie/work-never-hurt-anyone-it-s-idleness-that-causes-mischief/) [Jane Corrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-corrie/) > [It has been said that idleness is the parent of mischief, which is very true; but mischief itself is merely an attempt to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-has-been-said-that-idleness-is-the-parent-of-mischief-which-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In works of labour or of skillI would be busy too:For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/in-works-of-labour-or-of-skilli-would-be-busy-too-for-satan-finds/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [That men, in reality, did not have friends in other men. 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All pigs are intelligent, emotional, and sensitive souls. They all love company. They all crave contact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sy-montgomery/i-never-met-a-pig-i-didn-t-like-all-pigs-are-intelligent-emotional/) [Sy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sy-montgomery/) > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More by Francis M. Lyman > [Children...will never go astray while they are in good company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-m-lyman/children-will-never-go-astray-while-they-are-in-good-company/) [Francis M. Lyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-m-lyman/) > [When you labor for your brother you always get the chief reward yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-m-lyman/when-you-labor-for-your-brother-you-always-get-the-chief-reward/) [Francis M. Lyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-m-lyman/) > [There is nothing more dangerous than idleness...In labor there is salvation; in labor there is safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-m-lyman/there-is-nothing-more-dangerous-than-idleness-in-labor-there-is/) [Francis M. Lyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-m-lyman/) > [“There are good qualities in every soul. We seldom meet any one who is wholly determined to do wrong, though there are some who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-m-lyman/there-are-good-qualities-in-every-soul-we-seldom-meet-any-one-who-is/) [Francis M. 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Lyman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-m-lyman/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. 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