--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shun such as lounge through afternoons…" description: "\"“Shun such as lounge through afternoons and eves, And on thy dial write, \"Beware of thieves!\" Felon of minutes, never taught to feel The worth of treas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_laziness_shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-a_3031387.jpg" --- # Shun such as lounge through afternoons and eves, And on… ![“Shun such as lounge through afternoons and eves, And on thy dial write, "Beware of thieves!" Felon of minutes, never taught to feel The worth of treasures which thy fingers steal, Pick my left pocket of its silver dime, But spare the right,--it holds my golden time!” quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_laziness_shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-a_3031387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_laziness_shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-a_3031387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_laziness_shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-a_3031387.jpg) > ““Shun such as lounge through afternoons and eves, And on thy dial write, "Beware of thieves!" Felon of minutes, never taught to feel The worth of treasures which thy fingers steal, Pick my left pocket of its silver dime, But spare the right,--it holds my golden time!”” [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time is stolen by idle habits; we must guard minutes as precious treasures, not waste them on trivial pursuits. **In simple terms:** Wasting time is like stealing your own treasure. Key Takeaway Value each moment and avoid idle distractions. Themes time productivity mindfulness value Mood thoughtful motivational Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - daily planning - time tracking - goal setting - mindfulness practice - habit formation Key Concepts philosophy psychology economics Questions to Reflect On - What daily habit steals your time? - How can you reclaim lost minutes? A Different Perspective Even small distractions accumulate into large losses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The number one rule of thieves is that nothing is too small to steal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-breslin/the-number-one-rule-of-thieves-is-that-nothing-is-too-small-to-steal/) [Jimmy Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-breslin/) > [A thief, though rich, will continue to steal, but an honest man, though poor, will ever seek to pay his debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-andreas-widtsoe/a-thief-though-rich-will-continue-to-steal-but-an-honest-man-though/) [John Andreas Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-andreas-widtsoe/) > [“The gangs of arrogant thieves that can rob you of your success are your own doubts, fears and low self-image. Get them arrested and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-gangs-of-arrogant-thieves-that-can-rob-you-of-your-success-are/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Young Money thieves, steal your hearts with ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/young-money-thieves-steal-your-hearts-with-ease/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [You must remember always to give, of everything you have. You must give foolishly even. You must be extravagant. You must give to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/you-must-remember-always-to-give-of-everything-you-have-you-must-give/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [The only people who steal are thieves, and that's a very small percentage of civilization. Most people want to have some way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nesmith/the-only-people-who-steal-are-thieves-and-that-s-a-very-small/) [Michael Nesmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nesmith/) > [All my cousins steal things. They're just a bunch of thieves. My whole family is like that. You put something down for a second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/all-my-cousins-steal-things-they-re-just-a-bunch-of-thieves-my-whole/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I would not put a thief in my mouth to steal my brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/i-would-not-put-a-thief-in-my-mouth-to-steal-my-brains/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [I've taken stuff from people, too. You know though, if you steal from one person, you're just a thief. But if you steal from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bennett/i-ve-taken-stuff-from-people-too-you-know-though-if-you-steal-from/) [Tony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bennett/) > [I will not only not steal, but I will run after thieves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benigno-aquino-iii/i-will-not-only-not-steal-but-i-will-run-after-thieves/) [Benigno Aquino III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benigno-aquino-iii/) > [Out of the closets and into the museums, libraries, architectural monuments, concert halls, bookstores, recording studios and film studios of the world. Everything belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-the-closets-and-into-the-museums-libraries-architectural/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Procrastination isn't patience. It's a sign of laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/procrastination-isn-t-patience-it-s-a-sign-of-laziness/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [The unpreparedness of the educated classes, the lack of practical links between them and the mass of the people, their laziness, and, let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/the-unpreparedness-of-the-educated-classes-the-lack-of-practical/) [Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## More by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr > [No families take so little medicine as those of doctors, except those of apothecaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/no-families-take-so-little-medicine-as-those-of-doctors-except-those/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [What refuge is there for the victim who is oppressed with the feeling that there are a thousand new books he ought to read,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/what-refuge-is-there-for-the-victim-who-is-oppressed-with-the-feeling/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Science is the topography of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/science-is-the-topography-of-ignorance/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“My experience with public libraries is that the first volume of the book I inquire for is out, unless I happen to want the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/my-experience-with-public-libraries-is-that-the-first-volume-of-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“The great thing in this world, is not so much where we are, but in which direction we are moving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-great-thing-in-this-world-is-not-so-much-where-we-are-but-in/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [And if I should live to be The last leaf upon the tree In the spring, Let them smile, as I do now, At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/and-if-i-should-live-to-be-the-last-leaf-upon-the-tree-in-the-spring/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“Yet in opinions look not always back,-- Your wake is nothing, mind the coming track; Leave what you've done for what you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/yet-in-opinions-look-not-always-back-your-wake-is-nothing-mind-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“The Last Leaf I saw him once before, As he passed by the door, And again The pavement stones resound, As he totters o'er…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-last-leaf-i-saw-him-once-before-as-he-passed-by-the-door-and/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Me wretched! Let me curr to quercine shades! Effund your albid hausts, lactiferous maids! O, might I vole to some umbrageous clump,-- Depart,--be off,--excede,--evade,--erump!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/me-wretched-let-me-curr-to-quercine-shades-effund-your-albid-hausts/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Man is born a predestined idealist, for he is born to act. To act is to affirm the worth of an end, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/man-is-born-a-predestined-idealist-for-he-is-born-to-act-to-act-is-to/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“If the wild filly, "Progress," thou wouldst ride, Have young companions ever at thy side; But wouldst thou stride the stanch old mare, "Success,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/if-the-wild-filly-progress-thou-wouldst-ride-have-young-companions/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall. A mother's secret love outlives them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/youth-fades-love-droops-the-leaves-of-friendship-fall-a-mother-s/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“Have faith and pursue the unknown end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/have-faith-and-pursue-the-unknown-end/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“A man's mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/a-man-s-mind-is-stretched-by-a-new-idea-or-sensation-and-never/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [The year is getting to feel rich, for his golden fruits are ripening fast, and he has a large balance in the barns, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-year-is-getting-to-feel-rich-for-his-golden-fruits-are-ripening/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) [Explore all 34 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) ## More Laziness quotes > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [The unpreparedness of the educated classes, the lack of practical links between them and the mass of the people, their laziness, and, let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/the-unpreparedness-of-the-educated-classes-the-lack-of-practical/) [Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/) > [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Procrastination isn't patience. It's a sign of laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/procrastination-isn-t-patience-it-s-a-sign-of-laziness/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I think that laziness in many ways is the human condition, and that's what has led us to this place where, as we've developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-think-that-laziness-in-many-ways-is-the-human-condition-and-that-s/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [Prostration is our natural position. A worm-like movement from a spot of sunlight to a spot of shade, and back, is the type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/prostration-is-our-natural-position-a-worm-like-movement-from-a-spot/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [The biggest part of painting perhaps is faith, and waiting receptively, content to go any way, not planning or forcing. The fear, though, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/the-biggest-part-of-painting-perhaps-is-faith-and-waiting-receptively/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [“Don't you dare take the lazy way. It's too easy to excuse yourself because of your ancestry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/don-t-you-dare-take-the-lazy-way-it-s-too-easy-to-excuse-yourself/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A successful relationship requires a lot of work, unfortunately some people aren't always willing to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/a-successful-relationship-requires-a-lot-of-work-unfortunately-some/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Some women just skip having babies or adopt because they don't want to get fat or they haven't put in the time to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-pressly/some-women-just-skip-having-babies-or-adopt-because-they-don-t-want/) [Jaime Pressly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-pressly/) > [The biggest trap, the biggest dungeon in life isn't laziness or bad luck, it's comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-biggest-trap-the-biggest-dungeon-in-life-isn-t-laziness-or-bad/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“Opportunity knocks but some people are too busy watching TV.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/opportunity-knocks-but-some-people-are-too-busy-watching-tv/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) [Browse all 862 Laziness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Shun such as lounge through afternoons and eves, And on thy dial write, \"Beware of thieves!\" Felon of minutes, never taught to feel The worth of treasures which thy fingers steal, Pick my left pocket of its silver dime, But spare the right,--it holds my golden time!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-and-eves-and-on-thy-dial-write/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Laziness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-and-eves-and-on-thy-dial-write/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_laziness_shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-a_3031387.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_laziness_shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-a_3031387.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_laziness_shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-a_3031387.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Shun such as lounge through afternoons and eves, And on thy dial write, \"Beware of thieves!\" Felon of…” — Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr", "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": "Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Shun such as lounge through afternoons...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-and-eves-and-on-thy-dial-write/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/shun-such-as-lounge-through-afternoons-and-eves-and-on-thy-dial-write/#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 } } ] } ```