--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Idling is important. Most people don't…" description: "\"Idling is important. Most people don't know how. They're afraid of it. This explains why they turn on the television set or pick up the newspaper. They..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/mortimer-adler-8067_afraid_idling-is-important-most-people-don-t-kn_2929426.jpg" --- # Idling is important. Most people don't know how. They're… ![“Idling is important. Most people don't know how. They're afraid of it. This explains why they turn on the television set or pick up the newspaper. They think they have to be doing something.” quote by Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/mortimer-adler-8067_afraid_idling-is-important-most-people-don-t-kn_2929426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/mortimer-adler-8067_afraid_idling-is-important-most-people-don-t-kn_2929426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/mortimer-adler-8067_afraid_idling-is-important-most-people-don-t-kn_2929426.jpg) > “Idling is important. Most people don't know how. They're afraid of it. This explains why they turn on the television set or pick up the newspaper. They think they have to be doing something.” [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idle time is valuable for reflection and creativity, yet many avoid it fearing unproductivity, turning to passive media instead. **In simple terms:** Idling can be productive. Key Takeaway Embrace purposeful downtime. Themes productivity reflection media consumption Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - reading - meditation - creative brainstorming - journaling Key Concepts philosophy psychology leisure Questions to Reflect On - What can you do with idle moments? - How does society view idleness? A Different Perspective Too much idling can become escapism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Explains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-explains-4309537/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Explains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explains/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Idling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idling/) [Idling Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idling-important-4309536/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Newspaper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspaper/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-set/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-doing/) [Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“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 like idling when I ought not to be idling; not when it is the only thing I have to do. Thatis my pig-headed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-like-idling-when-i-ought-not-to-be-idling-not-when-it-is-the-only/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) ## More by Mortimer Adler > [I wonder if most people ever ask themselves why love is connected with reproduction. And if they do ask themselves about this, I wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/i-wonder-if-most-people-ever-ask-themselves-why-love-is-connected/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [A good book can teach you about the world and about yourself. You learn more than how to read better; you also learn more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/a-good-book-can-teach-you-about-the-world-and-about-yourself-you/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [We are selfish when we are exclusively or predominantly concerned with the good for ourselves. We are altruistic when we are exclusively or predominantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/we-are-selfish-when-we-are-exclusively-or-predominantly-concerned/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Habits are formed by the repetition of particular acts. They are strengthened by an increase in the number of repeated acts. Habits are also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/habits-are-formed-by-the-repetition-of-particular-acts-they-are/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [There is a strange fact about the human mind, a fact that differentiates the mind sharply from the body. The body is limited in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/there-is-a-strange-fact-about-the-human-mind-a-fact-that/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [The complexities of adult life get in the way of the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/the-complexities-of-adult-life-get-in-the-way-of-the-truth/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Think how different human societies would be if they were based on love rather than justice. But no such societies have ever existed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/think-how-different-human-societies-would-be-if-they-were-based-on/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [I suspect that most of the individuals who have religious faith are content with blind faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/i-suspect-that-most-of-the-individuals-who-have-religious-faith-are/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Teachers may think they are stuffing minds, but all they are ever affecting is the memory. Nothing can ever be forced into anyone's mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/teachers-may-think-they-are-stuffing-minds-but-all-they-are-ever/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [The love which moves the world, according to common Christian belief, is God's love and the love of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/the-love-which-moves-the-world-according-to-common-christian-belief/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Being influential is not the mark of a great book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/being-influential-is-not-the-mark-of-a-great-book/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Angels are able to know and understand better than the human intellect can, precisely because such knowledge and understanding comes to them by way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/angels-are-able-to-know-and-understand-better-than-the-human/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Men value things in three ways: as useful, as pleasant or sources of pleasure, and as excellent, or as intrinsically admirable or honorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/men-value-things-in-three-ways-as-useful-as-pleasant-or-sources-of/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Erotic or sexual love can truly be love if it is not selfishly sexual or lustful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/erotic-or-sexual-love-can-truly-be-love-if-it-is-not-selfishly-sexual/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [I suspect that most of the individuals who have religious faith are content with blind faith. They feel no obligation to understand what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/i-suspect-that-most-of-the-individuals-who-have-religious-faith-are-2/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) [Explore all 84 Mortimer Adler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Idling is important. 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