--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [M]ischief itself is merely an attempt to…" description: "\"“[M]ischief itself is merely an attempt to escape from the dreary vacuum of idleness.”\" — George Borrow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/george-borrow-67291_escapism_m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to_1075850.jpg" --- # \[M\]ischief itself is merely an attempt to escape from the… ![“[M]ischief itself is merely an attempt to escape from the dreary vacuum of idleness.” quote by George Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/george-borrow-67291_escapism_m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to_1075850.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/george-borrow-67291_escapism_m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to_1075850.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/george-borrow-67291_escapism_m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to_1075850.jpg) > ““\[M\]ischief itself is merely an attempt to escape from the dreary vacuum of idleness.”” [George Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-borrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mischief is a way to flee boredom and emptiness. **In simple terms:** Mischief fills idle time. Key Takeaway Find purposeful activity. Themes boredom creativity rebellion Mood playful reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - creative projects - personal downtime - social gatherings Key Concepts psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What idle moments could be turned into constructive creativity? - How does mischief differ from productive play? A Different Perspective Mischief can cause harm if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Escape Dreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape-dreary-239552/) [Escapism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escapism/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Ischief Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ischief-merely-2705770/) [Merely Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-attempt-2705771/) [Vacuum Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacuum-idleness-2705772/) ## Related quotes > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“Fun pretends to be about enjoyment, but is merely about the attempt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/fun-pretends-to-be-about-enjoyment-but-is-merely-about-the-attempt/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [What 'Escapism' did, of course I'm over the moon about that - but if that's the biggest moment that I ever get then so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raye/what-escapism-did-of-course-i-m-over-the-moon-about-that-but-if-that/) [Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raye/) > [Fashion is so close in revealing a person's inner feelings and everybody seems to hate to lay claim to vanity so people tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-blum/fashion-is-so-close-in-revealing-a-person-s-inner-feelings-and/) [Stella Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-blum/) > [“Time spent doing whatever it is you do to escape your daily life would be better spent acquiring a life that needs no escape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-hick/time-spent-doing-whatever-it-is-you-do-to-escape-your-daily-life/) [Shaun Hick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-hick/) > [Expeditions are escapism. The stuff that we're normally concerned about just doesn't matter out there. Tax returns, gas bill, none of it. Life becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-saunders/expeditions-are-escapism-the-stuff-that-we-re-normally-concerned/) [Ben Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-saunders/) > [A great book provides escapism for me. The artistry and the creativity in a story are better than any drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/a-great-book-provides-escapism-for-me-the-artistry-and-the-creativity/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [I think everybody wants to feel validated in some way, and when you're looking for leisure activities or if you're looking for escapism or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-think-everybody-wants-to-feel-validated-in-some-way-and-when-you-re/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [Fashion is, after all, a form of escapism, and in fact people are buying more special things than ever, nowadays. They deny and deny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/fashion-is-after-all-a-form-of-escapism-and-in-fact-people-are-buying/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [Music is escapism from the grim realities of life. But then as soon as you escape into the music, from my point of view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/music-is-escapism-from-the-grim-realities-of-life-but-then-as-soon-as/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [“We both knew no bounds to our escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-lillith-assadi/we-both-knew-no-bounds-to-our-escapism/) [Hannah Lillith Assadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-lillith-assadi/) > [I loved underground comics and psychedelic art. I did like some supernatural horror, but mainly fantasy. I was into escapism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arik-roper/i-loved-underground-comics-and-psychedelic-art-i-did-like-some/) [Arik Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arik-roper/) > [The young man shivered. He rolled the stock themes of fantasy over in his mind: cars and stockbrokers and commuters, housewives and police, agony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-young-man-shivered-he-rolled-the-stock-themes-of-fantasy-over-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Everything we do is escapism, because we'll all be dead and everything we do is completely meaningless. Why brush your teeth? Why not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-boyle/everything-we-do-is-escapism-because-we-ll-all-be-dead-and-everything/) [T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-boyle/) ## More by George Borrow > [“There’s the wind on the heath, brother; if I could only feel that, I would gladly live for ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-borrow/there-s-the-wind-on-the-heath-brother-if-i-could-only-feel-that-i/) [George Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-borrow/) > [“Youth is the only season for enjoyment, and the first twenty-five years of one's life are worth all the rest of the longest life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-borrow/youth-is-the-only-season-for-enjoyment-and-the-first-twenty-five/) [George Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-borrow/) > [Life is very sweet, brother; who would wish to die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-borrow/life-is-very-sweet-brother-who-would-wish-to-die/) [George Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-borrow/) [Explore all 4 George Borrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-borrow/) ## More Escapism quotes > [Music is escapism from the grim realities of life. But then as soon as you escape into the music, from my point of view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/music-is-escapism-from-the-grim-realities-of-life-but-then-as-soon-as/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [What 'Escapism' did, of course I'm over the moon about that - but if that's the biggest moment that I ever get then so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raye/what-escapism-did-of-course-i-m-over-the-moon-about-that-but-if-that/) [Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raye/) > [The young man shivered. He rolled the stock themes of fantasy over in his mind: cars and stockbrokers and commuters, housewives and police, agony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-young-man-shivered-he-rolled-the-stock-themes-of-fantasy-over-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I loved underground comics and psychedelic art. I did like some supernatural horror, but mainly fantasy. I was into escapism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arik-roper/i-loved-underground-comics-and-psychedelic-art-i-did-like-some/) [Arik Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arik-roper/) > [“We both knew no bounds to our escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-lillith-assadi/we-both-knew-no-bounds-to-our-escapism/) [Hannah Lillith Assadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-lillith-assadi/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [Everything we do is escapism, because we'll all be dead and everything we do is completely meaningless. Why brush your teeth? Why not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-boyle/everything-we-do-is-escapism-because-we-ll-all-be-dead-and-everything/) [T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-boyle/) > [Fashion is, after all, a form of escapism, and in fact people are buying more special things than ever, nowadays. They deny and deny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/fashion-is-after-all-a-form-of-escapism-and-in-fact-people-are-buying/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [I think everybody wants to feel validated in some way, and when you're looking for leisure activities or if you're looking for escapism or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/i-think-everybody-wants-to-feel-validated-in-some-way-and-when-you-re/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [A great book provides escapism for me. The artistry and the creativity in a story are better than any drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/a-great-book-provides-escapism-for-me-the-artistry-and-the-creativity/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [Expeditions are escapism. The stuff that we're normally concerned about just doesn't matter out there. Tax returns, gas bill, none of it. Life becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-saunders/expeditions-are-escapism-the-stuff-that-we-re-normally-concerned/) [Ben Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-saunders/) > [“Time spent doing whatever it is you do to escape your daily life would be better spent acquiring a life that needs no escape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-hick/time-spent-doing-whatever-it-is-you-do-to-escape-your-daily-life/) [Shaun Hick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-hick/) > [Fashion is so close in revealing a person's inner feelings and everybody seems to hate to lay claim to vanity so people tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-blum/fashion-is-so-close-in-revealing-a-person-s-inner-feelings-and/) [Stella Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-blum/) > [Without its roots in reality, I don't think escapism can survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/without-its-roots-in-reality-i-don-t-think-escapism-can-survive/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [I love all that kind of gothic Bram Stoker kind of thing. I love to get lost in that kind of escapism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/i-love-all-that-kind-of-gothic-bram-stoker-kind-of-thing-i-love-to/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) [Browse all 264 Escapism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escapism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[M]ischief itself is merely an attempt to escape from the dreary vacuum of idleness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Borrow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-borrow/m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to-escape-from-the-dreary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Escapism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-borrow/m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to-escape-from-the-dreary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/george-borrow-67291_escapism_m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to_1075850.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/george-borrow-67291_escapism_m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to_1075850.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/george-borrow-67291_escapism_m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to_1075850.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[M]ischief itself is merely an attempt to escape from the dreary vacuum of idleness.” — George Borrow", "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": "George Borrow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-borrow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“[M]ischief itself is merely an attempt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-borrow/m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to-escape-from-the-dreary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-borrow/m-ischief-itself-is-merely-an-attempt-to-escape-from-the-dreary/#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 } } ] } ```