---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Really, we shouldn't neglect the study of…"
description: "\"“Really, we shouldn't neglect the study of idleness so criminally, but make it into an art and a science, even into a religion!”\" — Friedrich Schlegel"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/friedrich-schlegel-42876_art_really-we-shouldn-t-neglect-the-study-of_2512291.jpg"
---

#  Really, we shouldn't neglect the study of idleness so…

![“Really, we shouldn't neglect the study of idleness so criminally, but make it into an art and a science, even into a religion!” quote by Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/friedrich-schlegel-42876_art_really-we-shouldn-t-neglect-the-study-of_2512291.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/friedrich-schlegel-42876_art_really-we-shouldn-t-neglect-the-study-of_2512291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/friedrich-schlegel-42876_art_really-we-shouldn-t-neglect-the-study-of_2512291.jpg)

> ““Really, we shouldn't neglect the study of idleness so criminally, but make it into an art and a science, even into a religion!””

[Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schlegel/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates treating idleness as a disciplined practice rather than a vice, suggesting it can be cultivated like art or religion.

**In simple terms:** Idleness can be purposeful and studied.

Key Takeaway

Embrace purposeful downtime.

Themes

leisure creativity productivity philosophy

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- creative brainstorming
- mindful rest
- academic research
- personal development

Key Concepts

Existentialism cultural critique

Questions to Reflect On

- How can idle time foster creativity?
- What rituals can make idleness constructive?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting active engagement may limit growth.

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[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/)

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[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Observe a method in the distribution of your time. Every hour will then know its proper employment, and no time will be lost. Idleness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hartwell-horne/observe-a-method-in-the-distribution-of-your-time-every-hour-will/)

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> [He who saddens at thought of idleness cannot be idle, / And he's awake who thinks himself asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/he-who-saddens-at-thought-of-idleness-cannot-be-idle-and-he-s-awake/)

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> [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/)

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> [The idle brain is the devil's playground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lange/the-idle-brain-is-the-devil-s-playground/)

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> [It can be set down as a broad, general principle that we cannot indulge in idleness and abundance during both the first and second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/it-can-be-set-down-as-a-broad-general-principle-that-we-cannot/)

[B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/)

> [Wasting time is negative, but there is something positive about idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-lynes/wasting-time-is-negative-but-there-is-something-positive-about/)

[Russell Lynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-lynes/)

> [The reason of idleness and of crime is the deferring of our hopes. Whilst we are waiting, we beguile the time with jokes, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-reason-of-idleness-and-of-crime-is-the-deferring-of-our-hopes/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Idleness is an expert thief,and our mind is its victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abid-al-qarni/idleness-is-an-expert-thief-and-our-mind-is-its-victim/)

Abid Al Qarni

> [Timing is everything. Tell me how a young man spends his evenings and I will tell you how far he is likely to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/timing-is-everything-tell-me-how-a-young-man-spends-his-evenings-and/)

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> [“Reality has a tendency to reveal itself when man is idle, and so it is because of this that idleness is often regarded as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vd/reality-has-a-tendency-to-reveal-itself-when-man-is-idle-and-so-it-is/)

VD

> [Idleness is paralysis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roswell-dwight-hitchcock/idleness-is-paralysis/)

[Roswell Dwight Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roswell-dwight-hitchcock/)

> [“Liza had a finely developed sense of sin Idleness was a sin, and card playing, which was a kind of idleness to her. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/liza-had-a-finely-developed-sense-of-sin-idleness-was-a-sin-and-card/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [The frivolous work of polished idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mackintosh/the-frivolous-work-of-polished-idleness/)

[James Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mackintosh/)

> [“Idleness is seductive. Just relax and do nothing, it says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/idleness-is-seductive-just-relax-and-do-nothing-it-says/)

[Innocent Mwatsikesimbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/)

## More by Friedrich Schlegel

> [“industry and utility are the angels of death who, with fiery swords, prevent man's return to Paradise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schlegel/industry-and-utility-are-the-angels-of-death-who-with-fiery-swords/)

[Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schlegel/)

> [“The bourgeois man is first and foremost fashioned and turned into a machine. He is happy even if he has become only a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schlegel/the-bourgeois-man-is-first-and-foremost-fashioned-and-turned-into-a/)

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> [“Die Blüten aller Dinge jeglicher Art flicht Poesie in einen leichten Kranz und so nennt und reimt auch Wilhelmine Gegenden, Zeiten, Begebenheiten, Personen, Spielwerke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schlegel/die-bl-ten-aller-dinge-jeglicher-art-flicht-poesie-in-einen-leichten/)

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> [“Qui augmente sa connaissance augmente son ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schlegel/qui-augmente-sa-connaissance-augmente-son-ignorance/)

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> [“A classical work of literature can never be completely understood. But those who are educated and educating themselves must always desire to learn more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schlegel/a-classical-work-of-literature-can-never-be-completely-understood-but/)

[Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schlegel/)

> [“philosophy of art usually lacks one of two things: either the philosophy or the art”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schlegel/philosophy-of-art-usually-lacks-one-of-two-things-either-the/)

[Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schlegel/)

> [“Poetry should forever be becoming and never perfected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schlegel/poetry-should-forever-be-becoming-and-never-perfected/)

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[Explore all 8 Friedrich Schlegel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schlegel/)

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[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

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