--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like idling when I ought not to be…" description: "\"“I like idling when I ought not to be idling; not when it is the only thing I have to do. Thatis my pig-headed nature. The time when I like best to sta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/jerome-k-jerome-1155_idling_i-like-idling-when-i-ought-not-to-be-idl_1802582.png" --- # I like idling when I ought not to be idling; not when it… ![“I like idling when I ought not to be idling; not when it is the only thing I have to do. Thatis my pig-headed nature. The time when I like best to stand with my back to the fire, calculating how much I owe, is when my desk is heaped highest with letters that must be answered by the next post. When…” quote by Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/jerome-k-jerome-1155_idling_i-like-idling-when-i-ought-not-to-be-idl_1802582.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/jerome-k-jerome-1155_idling_i-like-idling-when-i-ought-not-to-be-idl_1802582.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/jerome-k-jerome-1155_idling_i-like-idling-when-i-ought-not-to-be-idl_1802582.png) > ““I like idling when I ought not to be idling; not when it is the only thing I have to do. Thatis my pig-headed nature. The time when I like best to stand with my back to the fire, calculating how much I owe, is when my desk is heaped highest with letters that must be answered by the next post. When I like to dawdle longest over my dinner is when I have a heavy evening's work before me. And if, for some urgent reason, I ought to be up particularly early in the morning, it is then, more than at any other time, that I love to lie an extra half-hour in bed. Ah! how delicious it is to turn over and go to sleep again: "just for five minutes." Is there any human being, I wonder, besides the hero of a Sunday-school "tale for boys," who ever gets up willingly?”” [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker humorously admits to procrastinating most when tasks are most demanding, revealing a paradox of avoidance. **In simple terms:** Procrastination peaks under pressure. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage avoidance patterns. Themes procrastination self‑sabotage humor human nature Mood wry reflective light‑hearted Type anecdotal self‑reflective humorous When to use this quote - work deadlines - household chores - study sessions - morning routines - personal projects Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - Do you notice when you procrastinate most? - How can you turn idle moments into productive micro‑tasks? A Different Perspective The quote glorifies idle time, ignoring the stress and reduced quality caused by chronic delay. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idling/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I like idling when I ought not to be idling; not when it is the only thing I have to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-like-idling-when-i-ought-not-to-be-idling-not-when-it-is-the-only-2/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Idling has always been my strong point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/idling-has-always-been-my-strong-point/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“Idling has always been my strong point. I take no credit to myself in the matter-it is a gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/idling-has-always-been-my-strong-point-i-take-no-credit-to-myself-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-impossible-to-enjoy-idling-thoroughly-unless-one-has-plenty-of-2/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-impossible-to-enjoy-idling-thoroughly-unless-one-has-plenty-of/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [When you go to pick your kids up from school, cars are lined up idling for anywhere from five to 20 minutes. Starting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/when-you-go-to-pick-your-kids-up-from-school-cars-are-lined-up-idling/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [“Life was not to be sitting in hot amorphic leisure in my backyard idly writing or not-writing, as the spirit moved me. It was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/life-was-not-to-be-sitting-in-hot-amorphic-leisure-in-my-backyard/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [As for the dispute about solitude and society, any comparison is impertinent. It is an idling down on the plane at the base of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-the-dispute-about-solitude-and-society-any-comparison-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“It is an unfortunate reality for innate idlers that our modern world requires one to hold a job to maintain a sustainable existence. Idling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-maarten-troost/it-is-an-unfortunate-reality-for-innate-idlers-that-our-modern-world/) [J. Maarten Troost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-maarten-troost/) > [“Relaxing brings weakness, when done by a muscle; but brings strength, when done by a person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/relaxing-brings-weakness-when-done-by-a-muscle-but-brings-strength/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Personally I regard idling as a virtue, but civilized society holds otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-maarten-troost/personally-i-regard-idling-as-a-virtue-but-civilized-society-holds/) [J. Maarten Troost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-maarten-troost/) > [In idling, the motor's running, but you're letting your mind take in anything. Things pop into it. Those are the gifts of subterranean conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/in-idling-the-motor-s-running-but-you-re-letting-your-mind-take-in/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Idling is not my strong suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-gigandet/idling-is-not-my-strong-suit/) [Cam Gigandet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-gigandet/) > [I feel like Court Yard Hounds keeps us idling. I think Emily and I function better when we're continually making music and playing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/i-feel-like-court-yard-hounds-keeps-us-idling-i-think-emily-and-i/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [“Alberta had always had many forms of idling. She frittered away her time with virtuosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-sandel/alberta-had-always-had-many-forms-of-idling-she-frittered-away-her/) [Cora Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-sandel/) ## More by Jerome K. Jerome > [“George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/george-goes-to-sleep-at-a-bank-from-ten-to-four-each-day-except/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/he-would-use-a-bit-of-string-this-time-and-at-the-critical-moment/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. No; if it were men wouldn't be ashamed of it. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-poverty-is-no-crime-no-if-it-were-men/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Love is woman's business,and in "business" we all lay aside our natural weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/love-is-woman-s-business-and-in-business-we-all-lay-aside-our-natural/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [We are but the veriest, sorriest slaves of our stomach. Reach not after morality and righteousness, my friends; watch vigilantly your stomach, and diet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/we-are-but-the-veriest-sorriest-slaves-of-our-stomach-reach-not-after/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“There was no ground-floor — its ground-floor belonged to a house in the next court, and the front door opened direct upon a flight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/there-was-no-ground-floor-its-ground-floor-belonged-to-a-house-in-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“I can understand the ignorant masses loving to soak themselves in drink—oh, yes, it's very shocking that they should, of course—very shocking to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-can-understand-the-ignorant-masses-loving-to-soak-themselves-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [ They \[dogs\] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/they-dogs-never-talk-about-themselves-but-listen-to-you-while-you/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“And we sit there, by its margin, while the moon, who loves it too, stoops down to kiss it with a sister’s kiss, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/and-we-sit-there-by-its-margin-while-the-moon-who-loves-it-too-stoops/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“The only feeling that a closer intimacy has created in him for his wife is that of indulgent contempt. As there is no equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/the-only-feeling-that-a-closer-intimacy-has-created-in-him-for-his/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Evil thought is a dangerous pet. It is safer to play with it from behind the iron bars of circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/evil-thought-is-a-dangerous-pet-it-is-safer-to-play-with-it-from/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble with the rest; and if you can do with a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/if-you-are-foolish-enough-to-be-contented-don-t-show-it-but-grumble/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Life will always remain a gamble, with prizes sometimes for the imprudent, and blanks so often to the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/life-will-always-remain-a-gamble-with-prizes-sometimes-for-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never "weeps, he knows not why."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) [Explore all 267 Jerome K. Jerome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More Idling quotes > [“Alberta had always had many forms of idling. She frittered away her time with virtuosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-sandel/alberta-had-always-had-many-forms-of-idling-she-frittered-away-her/) [Cora Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-sandel/) > [I feel like Court Yard Hounds keeps us idling. I think Emily and I function better when we're continually making music and playing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/i-feel-like-court-yard-hounds-keeps-us-idling-i-think-emily-and-i/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [Idling is not my strong suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-gigandet/idling-is-not-my-strong-suit/) [Cam Gigandet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-gigandet/) > [In idling, the motor's running, but you're letting your mind take in anything. Things pop into it. Those are the gifts of subterranean conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/in-idling-the-motor-s-running-but-you-re-letting-your-mind-take-in/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Personally I regard idling as a virtue, but civilized society holds otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-maarten-troost/personally-i-regard-idling-as-a-virtue-but-civilized-society-holds/) [J. Maarten Troost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-maarten-troost/) > [“Relaxing brings weakness, when done by a muscle; but brings strength, when done by a person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/relaxing-brings-weakness-when-done-by-a-muscle-but-brings-strength/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-impossible-to-enjoy-idling-thoroughly-unless-one-has-plenty-of/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“It is an unfortunate reality for innate idlers that our modern world requires one to hold a job to maintain a sustainable existence. Idling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-maarten-troost/it-is-an-unfortunate-reality-for-innate-idlers-that-our-modern-world/) [J. Maarten Troost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-maarten-troost/) > [As for the dispute about solitude and society, any comparison is impertinent. It is an idling down on the plane at the base of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-the-dispute-about-solitude-and-society-any-comparison-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Life was not to be sitting in hot amorphic leisure in my backyard idly writing or not-writing, as the spirit moved me. It was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/life-was-not-to-be-sitting-in-hot-amorphic-leisure-in-my-backyard/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [When you go to pick your kids up from school, cars are lined up idling for anywhere from five to 20 minutes. Starting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/when-you-go-to-pick-your-kids-up-from-school-cars-are-lined-up-idling/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-impossible-to-enjoy-idling-thoroughly-unless-one-has-plenty-of-2/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Patience is idling your motor when you feel like stripping a gear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gothard/patience-is-idling-your-motor-when-you-feel-like-stripping-a-gear/) [Bill Gothard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gothard/) > [“Idling has always been my strong point. I take no credit to myself in the matter-it is a gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/idling-has-always-been-my-strong-point-i-take-no-credit-to-myself-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“Idleness as a waste of time is a damaging notion put about by its spiritually vacant enemies. The fact that idling can be enormously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/idleness-as-a-waste-of-time-is-a-damaging-notion-put-about-by-its/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) [Browse all 24 Idling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I like idling when I ought not to be idling; not when it is the only thing I have to do. Thatis my pig-headed nature. The time when I like best to stand with my back to the fire, calculating how much I owe, is when my desk is heaped highest with letters that must be answered by the next post. When I like to dawdle longest over my dinner is when I have a heavy evening's work before me. And if, for some urgent reason, I ought to be up particularly early in the morning, it is then, more than at any other time, that I love to lie an extra half-hour in bed. Ah! how delicious it is to turn over and go to sleep again: \"just for five minutes.\" Is there any human being, I wonder, besides the hero of a Sunday-school \"tale for boys,\" who ever gets up willingly?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerome K. 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