--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on…" description: "\"The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on which he taketh his free ease: who, as he is uncapable of any good, so he is fitly disposed for all evil motion..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/joseph-hall-7416_cushions_the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-w_2779286.png" --- # The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on which he taketh… ![“The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on which he taketh his free ease: who, as he is uncapable of any good, so he is fitly disposed for all evil motions.” quote by Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/joseph-hall-7416_cushions_the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-w_2779286.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/joseph-hall-7416_cushions_the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-w_2779286.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/joseph-hall-7416_cushions_the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-w_2779286.png) > “The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on which he taketh his free ease: who, as he is uncapable of any good, so he is fitly disposed for all evil motions.” [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) ## 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 evil, as inactivity creates space for negative influences to dominate. **In simple terms:** Idle people attract evil. Key Takeaway Stay active and purposeful. Themes morality idleness evil purpose Mood cautionary reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal routines - volunteer work - study habits Key Concepts ethics theology Questions to Reflect On - How do you use idle moments productively? - What activities keep you from falling into negativity? A Different Perspective Not all idle time leads to harm; rest can be restorative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cushions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cushions/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Devil Cushion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-cushion-3297887/) [Disposed Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disposed-evil-3297886/) [Ease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ease/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) [Idle Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle-man-926752/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Man Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-devil-860028/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [The idle man is the devil's cushion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Indolence is the devil's cushion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/indolence-is-the-devil-s-cushion/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Hunger is an altogether fit companion for the idle man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/hunger-is-an-altogether-fit-companion-for-the-idle-man/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [There is really nothing left to a genuine idle man, who possesses any considerable degree of vital power, but sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/there-is-really-nothing-left-to-a-genuine-idle-man-who-possesses-any/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [An idle man's brain is the devil's workshop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/an-idle-man-s-brain-is-the-devil-s-workshop/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“man has retained a love of idleness, but the curse weighs on the race not only because we have to seek our bread in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/man-has-retained-a-love-of-idleness-but-the-curse-weighs-on-the-race/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [In such a world as ours the idle man is not so much a biped as a bivalve; and the wealth which breeds idleness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/in-such-a-world-as-ours-the-idle-man-is-not-so-much-a-biped-as-a/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [An idle man has a constant tendency to torpidity. He has adopted the Indian maxim that it is better to walk than to run,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/an-idle-man-has-a-constant-tendency-to-torpidity-he-has-adopted-the/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [The idle man does not know what it is to enjoy rest, for he has not earned it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/the-idle-man-does-not-know-what-it-is-to-enjoy-rest-for-he-has-not/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [The idle man stands outside of God's plan, outside of the ordained scheme of things; and the truest self-respect, the noblest independence, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/the-idle-man-stands-outside-of-god-s-plan-outside-of-the-ordained/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [One monster there is in the world, the idle man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/one-monster-there-is-in-the-world-the-idle-man/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The idle man does not know what it is to enjoy rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-idle-man-does-not-know-what-it-is-to-enjoy-rest/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Idle man, chases after fairy tales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/idle-man-chases-after-fairy-tales/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [The way of life becomes monotonous for the idle man who seeks no change, but the hard work has many alternatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crosby-kwaw/the-way-of-life-becomes-monotonous-for-the-idle-man-who-seeks-no/) [Crosby Kwaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crosby-kwaw/) > [It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-is-the-working-man-who-is-the-happy-man-it-is-the-idle-man-who-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Joseph Hall > [A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/a-reputation-once-broken-may-possibly-be-repaired-but-the-world-will/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [And, if I were so low that I accounted myself the worst of all, yet some would account themselves in worse case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/and-if-i-were-so-low-that-i-accounted-myself-the-worst-of-all-yet/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The life of doctrine is in application.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-life-of-doctrine-is-in-application/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Words are as they are taken, and things are as they are used. There are even cursed blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/words-are-as-they-are-taken-and-things-are-as-they-are-used-there-are/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [We must first pray, that God would make us wise; before we can wish, he would make us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/we-must-first-pray-that-god-would-make-us-wise-before-we-can-wish-he/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I account this body nothing but a close prison to my soul; and the earth a larger prison to my body. I may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/i-account-this-body-nothing-but-a-close-prison-to-my-soul-and-the/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Satan would seem to be mannerly and reasonable; making as if he would be content with one-half of the heart, whereas God challengeth all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/satan-would-seem-to-be-mannerly-and-reasonable-making-as-if-he-would/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [It is not the bee's touching on the flowers that gathers the honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/it-is-not-the-bee-s-touching-on-the-flowers-that-gathers-the-honey/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/i-have-seldom-seen-much-ostentation-and-much-learning-met-together/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Mark in what order: first, our calling; then, our election; not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/mark-in-what-order-first-our-calling-then-our-election-not-beginning/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Fools measure actions, after they are done, by the event; wise men beforehand, by the rules of reason and right. The former look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/fools-measure-actions-after-they-are-done-by-the-event-wise-men/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/earthly-greatness-is-a-nice-thing-and-requires-so-much-chariness-in/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/a-good-man-is-kinder-to-his-enemy-than-bad-men-are-to-their-friends/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [The ear and the eye are the mind's receivers; but the tongue is only busy in expending the treasures received. It, therefore, the revenues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-ear-and-the-eye-are-the-mind-s-receivers-but-the-tongue-is-only/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [What fools are we, to be besotted with the love of our own trouble, and to hate our liberty and rest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/what-fools-are-we-to-be-besotted-with-the-love-of-our-own-trouble-and/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) [Explore all 91 Joseph Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) ## More Cushions quotes > [I'm not saying this because I'm looking for a soft cushion wherever I'm heading, I just feel that I've got thousands and thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-m-not-saying-this-because-i-m-looking-for-a-soft-cushion-wherever-i/) [Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/) > [The bigger the cushion, the better the pushin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/the-bigger-the-cushion-the-better-the-pushin/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Cushion the painful effects of hard blows by keeping the enthusiasm going strong, even if doing so requires struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/cushion-the-painful-effects-of-hard-blows-by-keeping-the-enthusiasm/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [We spend our whole lives worrying about the future, planning for the future, trying to predict the future, as if figuring it out will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/we-spend-our-whole-lives-worrying-about-the-future-planning-for-the/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [Life is a whoopee cushion, a chair pulled away just as you were taking a seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/life-is-a-whoopee-cushion-a-chair-pulled-away-just-as-you-were-taking/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [In some Churches today and on some religious television programs, we see the attempt to make Christianity popular and pleasant. We have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/in-some-churches-today-and-on-some-religious-television-programs-we/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The short-term international capital market is shrunken and erratic, and cannot be relied upon to cushion the effects of tendencies to disequilibrium in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-myrdal/the-short-term-international-capital-market-is-shrunken-and-erratic/) [Gunnar Myrdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-myrdal/) > [If airline seat cushions are such great flotation devices, why don't you ever see anyone take one to the beach?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/if-airline-seat-cushions-are-such-great-flotation-devices-why-don-t/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [Whether it's cushions you only use outside in the summer, or blankets that only come out in the winter, you've always got to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-turner/whether-it-s-cushions-you-only-use-outside-in-the-summer-or-blankets/) [Anthea Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-turner/) > [In sitting on the meditation cushion and assuming the meditation posture, we connect ourselves with the present moment in this body and on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/in-sitting-on-the-meditation-cushion-and-assuming-the-meditation/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [I will let my body flow like water over the gentle cushions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho/i-will-let-my-body-flow-like-water-over-the-gentle-cushions/) [Sappho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho/) > [ The book \[Night manager\] is amazing. It is amazing to act in any book adaptation, because a book gives you so many secrets and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/the-book-night-manager-is-amazing-it-is-amazing-to-act-in-any-book/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Music is the softest cushion in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-de-saint-phalle/music-is-the-softest-cushion-in-the-world/) [Niki de Saint Phalle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-de-saint-phalle/) > [Even the idea of a fart makes me laugh. Saying the word 'fart' makes me laugh. I have iFart on my phone. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/even-the-idea-of-a-fart-makes-me-laugh-saying-the-word-fart-makes-me/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Wisdom cannot prevent a fall, but may cushion it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/wisdom-cannot-prevent-a-fall-but-may-cushion-it/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) [Browse all 83 Cushions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cushions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on which he taketh his free ease: who, as he is uncapable of any good, so he is fitly disposed for all evil motions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Hall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-which-he-taketh-his-free-ease/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cushions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-which-he-taketh-his-free-ease/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/joseph-hall-7416_cushions_the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-w_2779286.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/joseph-hall-7416_cushions_the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-w_2779286.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/joseph-hall-7416_cushions_the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-w_2779286.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on which he taketh his free ease: who, as he is uncapable of any good…” — Joseph Hall", "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": "Joseph Hall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The idle man is the Devil's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-which-he-taketh-his-free-ease/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-idle-man-is-the-devil-s-cushion-on-which-he-taketh-his-free-ease/#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 } } ] } ```