--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somebody has said that dust is matter in…" description: "\"“Somebody has said that dust is matter in the wrong place. The same definition applies to nine-tenths of those called lazy. They are people gone astray..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/pyotr-kropotkin-15647_laziness_somebody-has-said-that-dust-is-matter-in_1948448.jpg" --- # Somebody has said that dust is matter in the wrong place… ![“Somebody has said that dust is matter in the wrong place. The same definition applies to nine-tenths of those called lazy. They are people gone astray in a direction that does not answer to their temperament nor to their capacities. In reading the biography of great men, we are struck with the…” quote by Pyotr Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/pyotr-kropotkin-15647_laziness_somebody-has-said-that-dust-is-matter-in_1948448.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/pyotr-kropotkin-15647_laziness_somebody-has-said-that-dust-is-matter-in_1948448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/pyotr-kropotkin-15647_laziness_somebody-has-said-that-dust-is-matter-in_1948448.jpg) > ““Somebody has said that dust is matter in the wrong place. The same definition applies to nine-tenths of those called lazy. They are people gone astray in a direction that does not answer to their temperament nor to their capacities. In reading the biography of great men, we are struck with the number of "idlers" among them. They were lazy so long as they had not found the right path; afterwards they became laborious to excess. Darwin, Stephenson, and many others belonged to this category of idlers.”” [Pyotr Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pyotr-kropotkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People may appear lazy when they lack a suitable path that matches their talents and temperament; finding the right direction transforms idleness into productive effort. **In simple terms:** Lazy people often just need the right fit. Key Takeaway Seek environments that align with your strengths. Themes motivation purpose productivity Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career choice - education - personal development - entrepreneurship Key Concepts Psychology human potential Questions to Reflect On - What environment would unlock your hidden potential? - How can society better match people to suitable roles? A Different Perspective Not everyone can easily discover their ideal path; external constraints may limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Category Idlers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/category-idlers-3146915/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Idlers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idlers/) [Idlers Lazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idlers-lazy-3146914/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Lazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazy/) [Lazy people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazy-people/) [Right path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-path/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) [Wrong place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-place/) ## Related quotes > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... 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Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [All poets are idlers, even if all idlers are not poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/all-poets-are-idlers-even-if-all-idlers-are-not-poets/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The idea of a government is to create an ordered, willing work force where there's no trouble. I think idlers are generally seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/the-idea-of-a-government-is-to-create-an-ordered-willing-work-force/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The faster you go, the idler you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferreira-gullar/the-faster-you-go-the-idler-you-get/) [Ferreira Gullar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferreira-gullar/) > [“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people-started-the-rumor-that-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [Beauty, pleasure, freedom and plenty of sleep: these are the hallmarks of a successful idler's break. Travel should not be hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/beauty-pleasure-freedom-and-plenty-of-sleep-these-are-the-hallmarks/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [ The perfect woman, you see \[is\] a working-woman; not an idler; not a fine lady; but one who \[uses\] her hands and her head… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-perfect-woman-you-see-is-a-working-woman-not-an-idler-not-a-fine/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. 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