--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish…" description: "\"Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is corrupted unless it moves.\" — Ovid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/ovid-276_body_thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish_577119.png" --- # Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is… ![“Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is corrupted unless it moves.” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/ovid-276_body_thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish_577119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/ovid-276_body_thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish_577119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/ovid-276_body_thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish_577119.png) > “Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is corrupted unless it moves.” [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage likens sloth to stagnant water, emphasizing that inactivity corrupts the body and spirit. **In simple terms:** Sloth leads to decay like still water. Key Takeaway Avoid idleness. Themes morality philosophy health spirituality Mood cautionary thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal health - workplace productivity - spiritual practice - environmental stewardship Key Concepts ethics psychology physiology Questions to Reflect On - How does movement affect your wellbeing? - What habits combat sloth in daily life? A Different Perspective Some view rest as restorative, not corrupting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Sloth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sloth/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [In the student sensuality is a sluggish habit of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-the-student-sensuality-is-a-sluggish-habit-of-mind/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A sluggish, dawdling, and dilatory man may have spasms of activity, but he never acts continuously and consecutively with energetic quickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stillman-hillard/a-sluggish-dawdling-and-dilatory-man-may-have-spasms-of-activity-but/) [George Stillman Hillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stillman-hillard/) > [Come boy, and pour for me a cup Of old Falernian. Fill it up With wine, strong, sparkling, bright, and clear; Our host decrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/come-boy-and-pour-for-me-a-cup-of-old-falernian-fill-it-up-with-wine/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sluggish idleness--the nurse of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/sluggish-idleness-the-nurse-of-sin/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“The evil that is in Man comes of sluggish minds...for sluggards cannot think, and will not...Send upon us thy flames that we may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/the-evil-that-is-in-man-comes-of-sluggish-minds-for-sluggards-cannot/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) > [I avoid that bleak first hour of the working day during which my still sluggish senses and body make every chore a penance. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/i-avoid-that-bleak-first-hour-of-the-working-day-during-which-my/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [The body of the Earth, large, sluggish and inapt for motion, is not to be disturbed by movement (especially three movements), any more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tycho-brahe/the-body-of-the-earth-large-sluggish-and-inapt-for-motion-is-not-to/) [Tycho Brahe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tycho-brahe/) > [If your car takes 95 and you put 87 in it, it's gonna run sluggish, right? A lot of people don't realize what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/if-your-car-takes-95-and-you-put-87-in-it-it-s-gonna-run-sluggish/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [Sometimes I wouldn't eat breakfast before 1 P.M. games because I knew it would make me sluggish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/sometimes-i-wouldn-t-eat-breakfast-before-1-p-m-games-because-i-knew/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) > [“was so sluggish and sad lately. I think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mulle/was-so-sluggish-and-sad-lately-i-think/) [Mark Mulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mulle/) > [All this piling up of one technology on top of another-railroad on steamboat, interstate highway on railroad, hydroelectric dam on watermill-had reduced the Mississippi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raban/all-this-piling-up-of-one-technology-on-top-of-another-railroad-on/) [Jonathan Raban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raban/) > [The sluggish economy is creating a situation where the young people in Japan cannot cherish their desires or have prospects for their future. Also,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinzo-abe/the-sluggish-economy-is-creating-a-situation-where-the-young-people/) [Shinzo Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinzo-abe/) > [If I eat junk food and have a workout the next day, I feel a significant difference in the way my body responds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/if-i-eat-junk-food-and-have-a-workout-the-next-day-i-feel-a/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [In fact man's career has been less like a mountain torrent hurtling from rock to rock, than a great sluggish river, broken very seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/in-fact-man-s-career-has-been-less-like-a-mountain-torrent-hurtling/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [There are some sluggish men who are improved by drinking; as there are fruits that are not good until they are rotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-are-some-sluggish-men-who-are-improved-by-drinking-as-there-are/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Ovid > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hate a woman who offers herself because she ought to do so, and cold and dry thinks of her sewing when making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-hate-a-woman-who-offers-herself-because-she-ought-to-do-so-and-cold/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The sea's vast depths lie open to the fish; Wherever the breezes blow the bird may fly; So to the brave man every land's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-sea-s-vast-depths-lie-open-to-the-fish-wherever-the-breezes-blow/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus all things altered. Nothing dies. And here and there the unbodied spirit flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thus-all-things-altered-nothing-dies-and-here-and-there-the-unbodied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/how-little-is-the-promise-of-the-child-fulfilled-in-the-man/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Judgement of beauty can err, what with the wine and the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/judgement-of-beauty-can-err-what-with-the-wine-and-the-dark/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Leave war to others; 'tis Protesilaus' part of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/leave-war-to-others-tis-protesilaus-part-of-love/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Explore all 771 Ovid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is corrupted unless it moves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ovid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish-body-as-water-is-corrupted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish-body-as-water-is-corrupted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/ovid-276_body_thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish_577119.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/ovid-276_body_thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish_577119.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/ovid-276_body_thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish_577119.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thou seest how sloth wastes the sluggish body, as water is corrupted unless it moves.” — Ovid", "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": "Ovid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thou seest how sloth wastes the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish-body-as-water-is-corrupted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thou-seest-how-sloth-wastes-the-sluggish-body-as-water-is-corrupted/#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 } } ] } ```