--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Avoid idleness, and fill up all the…" description: "\"Avoid idleness, and fill up all the spaces of thy time with severe and useful employment; for lust easily creeps in at those emptinesses where the soul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/jeremy-taylor-4089_benefits_avoid-idleness-and-fill-up-all-the-space_1359796.jpg" --- # Avoid idleness, and fill up all the spaces of thy time… ![“Avoid idleness, and fill up all the spaces of thy time with severe and useful employment; for lust easily creeps in at those emptinesses where the soul is unemployed and the body is at ease; for no easy, healthful, idle person was ever chaste if he could be tempted; but of all employments, bodily…” quote by Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/jeremy-taylor-4089_benefits_avoid-idleness-and-fill-up-all-the-space_1359796.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/jeremy-taylor-4089_benefits_avoid-idleness-and-fill-up-all-the-space_1359796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/jeremy-taylor-4089_benefits_avoid-idleness-and-fill-up-all-the-space_1359796.jpg) > “Avoid idleness, and fill up all the spaces of thy time with severe and useful employment; for lust easily creeps in at those emptinesses where the soul is unemployed and the body is at ease; for no easy, healthful, idle person was ever chaste if he could be tempted; but of all employments, bodily labor is the most useful, and of the greatest benefit for driving away the Devil.” [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idleness invites temptation; purposeful work protects the soul and body from moral decay. **In simple terms:** Being busy keeps you virtuous. Key Takeaway Fill time with meaningful work. Themes discipline morality spirituality Mood thoughtful serious Type advice spiritual When to use this quote - daily routine - career - volunteering - exercise - spiritual practice Key Concepts temptation devil idle mind Questions to Reflect On - What tasks truly nourish your soul? - How do you balance activity with reflection? A Different Perspective Even purposeful work can become a distraction from deeper spiritual growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoid Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid-idleness-4650758/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Chaste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste/) [Creeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeps/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Driving away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving-away/) [Ease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ease/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Employment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employment/) [Employments Bodily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employments-bodily-4650761/) [Emptiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emptiness/) [Healthful Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthful-idle-4650760/) [Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Severe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/severe/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Tempted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempted/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed/) [Useful Employment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful-employment-4650759/) ## Related quotes > [If all men and women were kept at some useful employment there would be less sorrow and wickedness in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-nevill/if-all-men-and-women-were-kept-at-some-useful-employment-there-would/) [Dorothy Nevill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-nevill/) > [A pure mind in a chaste body is the mother of wisdom and deliberation; sober counsels and ingenuous actions; open deportment and sweet carriage;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/a-pure-mind-in-a-chaste-body-is-the-mother-of-wisdom-and-deliberation/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [The pleasant life is not produced by continual drinking and dancing, nor sexual intercourse, nor rare dishes of sea food and other delicacies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/the-pleasant-life-is-not-produced-by-continual-drinking-and-dancing/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“It seems jolly on the page. 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Date someone who'll wait to make sure you get inside before driving away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-matson/4-date-someone-who-ll-wait-to-make-sure-you-get-inside-before-driving/) [Morgan Matson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-matson/) ## More by Jeremy Taylor > [“there are sicknesses that walk in darkness, and there are exterminating angels who fly wrapt up in the curtains of immateriality and an uncommunicating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/there-are-sicknesses-that-walk-in-darkness-and-there-are/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [The private and personal blessings we enjoy- the blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty and integrity- deserve the thanksgiving of a whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/the-private-and-personal-blessings-we-enjoy-the-blessings-of-immunity/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [Drunkenness is an immoderate affection and use of drink. 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