--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success has no idle hands; affords no…" description: "\"“Success has no idle hands; affords no legs at rest.”\" — Johnnie Dent Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/johnnie-dent-jr-10484_complacency_success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-leg_2763540.jpg" --- # Success has no idle hands; affords no legs at rest. ![“Success has no idle hands; affords no legs at rest.” quote by Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/johnnie-dent-jr-10484_complacency_success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-leg_2763540.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/johnnie-dent-jr-10484_complacency_success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-leg_2763540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/johnnie-dent-jr-10484_complacency_success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-leg_2763540.jpg) > ““Success has no idle hands; affords no legs at rest.”” [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires constant activity; idle hands and stagnant legs prevent achievement. **In simple terms:** Success needs constant motion. Key Takeaway Stay active, avoid complacency. Themes productivity motivation discipline Mood energetic determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - business - fitness - studying - career development Key Concepts Momentum effort goal‑setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance activity and rest? - What habits keep you moving forward? A Different Perspective May ignore need for rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affords Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affords-legs-3188339/) [Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) [Completion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completion/) [Hands Affords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-affords-3188340/) [Idle hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle-hands/) [Legs Rest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs-rest-1276311/) [No-quitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-quitting-132400/) [Not settling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-settling/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Success Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-idle-3188338/) [Success-strategies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-strategies/) [Successful-living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-living/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes, the best shots you can put up are the ones when you don't shoot the ball - you gotta give your legs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/sometimes-the-best-shots-you-can-put-up-are-the-ones-when-you-don-t/) [Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/) > [“It doesn't matter where you are right now. No matter where you are, you're on the way to greatness If you desire that reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sereda-aleta-dailey/it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-are-right-now-no-matter-where-you-are-you/) [Sereda Aleta Dailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sereda-aleta-dailey/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [ “What a mess,” \[Rubashov\] said, “what a mess we have made of our golden age.” Ivanov smiled. “Maybe,” he said happily. “Look at the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/what-a-mess-rubashov-said-what-a-mess-we-have-made-of-our-golden-age/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Therefore with idle hands and head I sit In late December before the fire's daze Punished by crimes of which I would be quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/therefore-with-idle-hands-and-head-i-sit-in-late-december-before-the/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [You should not have idle hands, you should always be working. All your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-bunin/you-should-not-have-idle-hands-you-should-always-be-working-all-your/) [Ivan Bunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-bunin/) > [I can't stand still; I find it very difficult to sit around and do nothing. I've got to have projects on the go because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-t-stand-still-i-find-it-very-difficult-to-sit-around-and-do/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“The economic system barely functions as it is—I mean, the contemporary economic system is a complete catastrophe, an absolutely catastrophic failure. For instance, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-economic-system-barely-functions-as-it-is-i-mean-the-contemporary/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Satan finds some mischief still, for idle hands to do'...He might have written with as much truth, 'Satan finds some mischief for busy hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/satan-finds-some-mischief-still-for-idle-hands-to-do-he-might-have/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The devil finds work for idle hands to do. Better to reign in the hell than serve in heaven. We are in bondage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-devil-finds-work-for-idle-hands-to-do-better-to-reign-in-the-hell/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [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/) > [“Oh. Okay. Okay,” she said, burying her nose in Holden’s neck, wetting his skin with her tears. “Thank . . . thank you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-regnery/oh-okay-okay-she-said-burying-her-nose-in-holden-s-neck-wetting-his/) [Katy Regnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-regnery/) > [“If idle hands are the devil’s tools, then a clever teenager with idle hands and a methodical personality is the devil’s munitions factory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-idle-hands-are-the-devil-s-tools-then-a-clever-teenager-with-idle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I promise I will repay you.” “Oh yeah?” she asked, looking at him, with his bare feet and plain, dark clothes. “With what?” The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-promise-i-will-repay-you-oh-yeah-she-asked-looking-at-him-with-his/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [I've never been one for idle hands. Totie Fields introduced me to needlepoint when we worked together in Vegas. My first pillow was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-ve-never-been-one-for-idle-hands-totie-fields-introduced-me-to/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) ## More by Johnnie Dent Jr > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“Never be afraid to offer a smile; sure the risk is that a few foolish people may misinterpret your kindness as weakness, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/never-be-afraid-to-offer-a-smile-sure-the-risk-is-that-a-few-foolish/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“Stay up... 'till you come up... when you come up stay up!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/stay-up-till-you-come-up-when-you-come-up-stay-up/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“There is no such thing as S CCESS without U in it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/there-is-no-such-thing-as-s-ccess-without-u-in-it/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“Relationship math suggests that It is rare for two people to enter marriage and one person is to blame for everything that goes wrong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/relationship-math-suggests-that-it-is-rare-for-two-people-to-enter/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“When you put the hard work in... reward will come out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/when-you-put-the-hard-work-in-reward-will-come-out/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“My personal definition of confidence is to keep believing that the stars in the solar system are actually watching and applauding you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/my-personal-definition-of-confidence-is-to-keep-believing-that-the/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“confident: have no fans... only flames.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/confident-have-no-fans-only-flames/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“Forgive your past because it the vehicle through your process and from this point forward your life is made of 100% future; Caterpillars always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/forgive-your-past-because-it-the-vehicle-through-your-process-and/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“At some point we all play by the rules, whether it's the rules of all mankind, the rules of Father who is time, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/at-some-point-we-all-play-by-the-rules-whether-it-s-the-rules-of-all/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“It is impossible to make time but you can always make a commitment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/it-is-impossible-to-make-time-but-you-can-always-make-a-commitment/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“God would not bring you through a Red Sea and turn around and allow you to perish in a fish pond.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/god-would-not-bring-you-through-a-red-sea-and-turn-around-and-allow/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“Confidence does not come out of coincidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/confidence-does-not-come-out-of-coincidence/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“When you cannot find a pill for it, try taking a full dosage of responsibility”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/when-you-cannot-find-a-pill-for-it-try-taking-a-full-dosage-of/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“Never mistake movement for action... a rocking horse moves; a race horse charges towards a goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/never-mistake-movement-for-action-a-rocking-horse-moves-a-race-horse/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) [Explore all 65 Johnnie Dent Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) ## More Complacency quotes > [“Complacency delivered us into the hands of evil greedy men like Cheney.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rumzi/complacency-delivered-us-into-the-hands-of-evil-greedy-men-like-cheney/) [Sonia Rumzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rumzi/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Don't let your success of today lay you into complacency for tomorrow. For that is the worst form of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/don-t-let-your-success-of-today-lay-you-into-complacency-for-tomorrow/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [We are the best the show, others weak hold. Just to get complacency / which does not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/we-are-the-best-the-show-others-weak-hold-just-to-get-complacency/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“It’s a fallacy that this generation does not know how to love as its predecessor did. Truth of the matter is, modern love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/it-s-a-fallacy-that-this-generation-does-not-know-how-to-love-as-its/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“To move forward, one need only take the first step,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-neill/to-move-forward-one-need-only-take-the-first-step/) [Chase Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-neill/) > [Plato calls complacency the companion of loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/plato-calls-complacency-the-companion-of-loneliness/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Half the ingratitude and complacency in the world down to how slowly and imperceptibly most good and bad things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/half-the-ingratitude-and-complacency-in-the-world-down-to-how-slowly/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Don't let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does, the truth - don't let that get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/don-t-let-your-special-character-and-values-the-secret-that-you-know/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [In the mind engaged in struggling with hardship, one always finds something delightful. The sorrow of disappointment arises in the complacency of satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-the-mind-engaged-in-struggling-with-hardship-one-always-finds/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Complacency is a creeping danger. Unless wisdom sets in, you will never come to your senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jey-lopez/complacency-is-a-creeping-danger-unless-wisdom-sets-in-you-will-never/) [Jey Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jey-lopez/) > [I have spoken about what we can do as citizens, what we can do as a responsive citizenry, and this is where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-have-spoken-about-what-we-can-do-as-citizens-what-we-can-do-as-a/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“Listen to Mr. Complacency long enough and he'll convince you that what you really, really need is a nap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-and-brett-harris/listen-to-mr-complacency-long-enough-and-he-ll-convince-you-that-what/) [Alex and Brett Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-and-brett-harris/) > [I always say, complacency is the kiss of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-redstone/i-always-say-complacency-is-the-kiss-of-death/) [Shari Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-redstone/) [Browse all 437 Complacency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Success has no idle hands; affords no legs at rest.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnnie Dent Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-legs-at-rest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Complacency" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-legs-at-rest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/johnnie-dent-jr-10484_complacency_success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-leg_2763540.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/johnnie-dent-jr-10484_complacency_success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-leg_2763540.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/johnnie-dent-jr-10484_complacency_success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-leg_2763540.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Success has no idle hands; affords no legs at rest.” — Johnnie Dent Jr", "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": "Johnnie Dent Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Success has no idle hands; affords...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-legs-at-rest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/success-has-no-idle-hands-affords-no-legs-at-rest/#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 } } ] } ```