--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to be idle than employed in…" description: "\"It is better to be idle than employed in ill.\" — Norm MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/norm-macdonald-1825_better_it-is-better-to-be-idle-than-employed-in_2389265.png" --- # It is better to be idle than employed in ill. ![“It is better to be idle than employed in ill.” quote by Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/norm-macdonald-1825_better_it-is-better-to-be-idle-than-employed-in_2389265.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/norm-macdonald-1825_better_it-is-better-to-be-idle-than-employed-in_2389265.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/norm-macdonald-1825_better_it-is-better-to-be-idle-than-employed-in_2389265.png) > “It is better to be idle than employed in ill.” [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## 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 can be healthier than harmful work; leisure may protect wellbeing. **In simple terms:** Being idle can be better than bad work. Key Takeaway Value restorative rest. Themes leisure health work ethic Mood lighthearted thoughtful Type humorous philosophical When to use this quote - office jobs - creative projects - personal health Key Concepts psychology of burnout life balance Questions to Reflect On - When does idleness hinder growth? - How to balance rest and activity? A Different Perspective Idle time may become unproductive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-idle-4832700/) [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [Employed Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed-ill-5944768/) [Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) [Idle Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle-employed-5944767/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) ## Related quotes > [It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad, and it is better still to sit with the good than alone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/it-is-better-to-sit-alone-than-in-company-with-the-bad-and-it-is/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [Just enough sense to stick with something-a chore, task, project, until its completed pays off much better than idle intelligence, even if idle intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/just-enough-sense-to-stick-with-something-a-chore-task-project-until/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [It seems idle to rail at ambition merely because it is a boundless passion; or rather is not this circumstance an argument in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/it-seems-idle-to-rail-at-ambition-merely-because-it-is-a-boundless/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Children generally hate to be idle; all the care then is that their busy humour should be constantly employed in something of use to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/children-generally-hate-to-be-idle-all-the-care-then-is-that-their/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [I call that man idle who might be better employed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-call-that-man-idle-who-might-be-better-employed/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [They are not only idle who do nothing, but they are idle also who might be better employed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/they-are-not-only-idle-who-do-nothing-but-they-are-idle-also-who/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The idle always have a mind to do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/the-idle-always-have-a-mind-to-do-something/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-wonderful-how-much-may-be-done-if-we-are-always-doing/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am not the only one that condemns the idle; for once when I was going to give our minister a pretty long list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-am-not-the-only-one-that-condemns-the-idle-for-once-when-i-was/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Leave your bed upon the first desertion of sleep; it being ill for the eye's to read lying, and worse for the mind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-osborne/leave-your-bed-upon-the-first-desertion-of-sleep-it-being-ill-for-the/) [Frances Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-osborne/) > [The slothful are always ready to engage in idle talk of what will be done tomorrow, and every day after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/the-slothful-are-always-ready-to-engage-in-idle-talk-of-what-will-be/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [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/) > [Sometimes I think that idlers seem to be a special class for whom nothing can be planned, plead as one will with them -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/sometimes-i-think-that-idlers-seem-to-be-a-special-class-for-whom/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Men are generally idle, and ready to satisfy themselves, and intimidate the industry of others, by calling that impossible which is only difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/men-are-generally-idle-and-ready-to-satisfy-themselves-and-intimidate/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Norm MacDonald > [In estimating the adversities of life, we would seldom have much reason to complain of the evils we suffer, did we understand the dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-estimating-the-adversities-of-life-we-would-seldom-have-much/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Chastity is oftener owing to diffidence and shame, than to fortitude of reason or virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/chastity-is-oftener-owing-to-diffidence-and-shame-than-to-fortitude/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Liberty, like health, appears most precious when lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/liberty-like-health-appears-most-precious-when-lost/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [After months of speculation, the sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres admitted that yes, she's gay. 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And the guy before him, I don't know. Probably died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/my-dad-died-and-my-grandfather-died-and-my-great-grandfather-died-and/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [ Louis \[C.K.\] is great. But I don't know how many you could do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/louis-c-k-is-great-but-i-don-t-know-how-many-you-could-do/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I don't have any ego about it, but I find there's not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-don-t-have-any-ego-about-it-but-i-find-there-s-not-a-great-work/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Many people are skeptical about marriage of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley. They say, Lisa Marie is more of a sit at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/many-people-are-skeptical-about-marriage-of-michael-jackson-and-lisa/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Back in the old days, a man could just get sick and die. Now they have to wage a battle. 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