--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Idle minds are the devil's…" description: "\"Idle minds are the devil's research-and-development department.\" — Robert Stacy McCain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/robert-stacy-mccain-36630_department_idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and_881378.png" --- # Idle minds are the devil's research-and-development… ![“Idle minds are the devil's research-and-development department.” quote by Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/robert-stacy-mccain-36630_department_idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and_881378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/robert-stacy-mccain-36630_department_idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and_881378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/robert-stacy-mccain-36630_department_idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and_881378.png) > “Idle minds are the devil's research-and-development department.” [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An idle mind creates harmful ideas, while active thinking drives constructive innovation. **In simple terms:** Idle minds breed negativity. Key Takeaway Engage your thoughts productively. Themes productivity creativity mental health Mood inspirational practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - studying - creative projects - problem solving - mindfulness Key Concepts cognitive science psychology Questions to Reflect On - What projects can you start now? - How do you turn idle moments into growth? A Different Perspective Idle time can also be restorative if balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Research and development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research-and-development/) ## Related quotes > [“Reality has a tendency to reveal itself when man is idle, and so it is because of this that idleness is often regarded as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vd/reality-has-a-tendency-to-reveal-itself-when-man-is-idle-and-so-it-is/) VD > [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/) > [In works of labour or of skillI would be busy too:For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/in-works-of-labour-or-of-skilli-would-be-busy-too-for-satan-finds/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Well, I wanted to be a philosopher, which is the idlest occupation in the world. I wanted to be involved in abstract thought, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/well-i-wanted-to-be-a-philosopher-which-is-the-idlest-occupation-in/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [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/) > [Paradoxically, to be truly idle, you also have to be efficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/paradoxically-to-be-truly-idle-you-also-have-to-be-efficient/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [To have done anything just for money is to have been truly idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-have-done-anything-just-for-money-is-to-have-been-truly-idle/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [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/) > [One is not idle because one is absorbed. There is both visible and invisible labor. To contemplate is to toil, to think is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/one-is-not-idle-because-one-is-absorbed-there-is-both-visible-and/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [He who saddens at thought of idleness cannot be idle, / And he's awake who thinks himself asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/he-who-saddens-at-thought-of-idleness-cannot-be-idle-and-he-s-awake/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [An idle life always produces varied inclinations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucan/an-idle-life-always-produces-varied-inclinations/) [Lucan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucan/) > [The idle brain is the devil's playground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lange/the-idle-brain-is-the-devil-s-playground/) [Eric Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lange/) > [On a mission your worst enemy is idle time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-hussle/on-a-mission-your-worst-enemy-is-idle-time/) [Nipsey Hussle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-hussle/) > [Be ashamed to catch yourself idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/be-ashamed-to-catch-yourself-idle/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Robert Stacy McCain > [Writing is a skill, not a talent, and this difference is important because a skill can be improved by practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/writing-is-a-skill-not-a-talent-and-this-difference-is-important/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [One of the most annoying habits of liberals is their tendency to confuse their political agenda with moral virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/one-of-the-most-annoying-habits-of-liberals-is-their-tendency-to/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [“When I was in London in 2008, I spent a couple hours hanging out at a pub with a couple of blokes who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/when-i-was-in-london-in-2008-i-spent-a-couple-hours-hanging-out-at-a/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [One of the easiest things in the world to do is to tell other people how to raise their children. This is especially easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/one-of-the-easiest-things-in-the-world-to-do-is-to-tell-other-people/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [Having daughters tends to help a guy get in touch with his inner social conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/having-daughters-tends-to-help-a-guy-get-in-touch-with-his-inner/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [If you consider sexual desire and romantic love between men and women to be natural and healthy, you are not a feminist . There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/if-you-consider-sexual-desire-and-romantic-love-between-men-and-women/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [I have no use for "men's rights," any more than I have any use for "women's rights," but let us ask: Who was it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/i-have-no-use-for-men-s-rights-any-more-than-i-have-any-use-for-women/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [When somebody is determined to whup your ass, without regard to any concern for what is fair, you must recognize that the only alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/when-somebody-is-determined-to-whup-your-ass-without-regard-to-any/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [Offend a Christian and he is obliged to pray for your salvation. Offend a Muslim and he is obliged to murder you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/offend-a-christian-and-he-is-obliged-to-pray-for-your-salvation/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [When I said that the mentally ill should be in institutions, public universities weren't the kind of institutions I had in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/when-i-said-that-the-mentally-ill-should-be-in-institutions-public/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) > [Envy is the root of the egalitarian ethos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/envy-is-the-root-of-the-egalitarian-ethos/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) [Explore all 12 Robert Stacy McCain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) ## More Department quotes > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... 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It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I prefer department stores. In boutiques, they come up and ask you if you need help. I can't get lost in the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/i-prefer-department-stores-in-boutiques-they-come-up-and-ask-you-if/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [A poet could write volumes about diners, because they're so beautiful. They're brightly lit, with chrome and booths and Naugahyde and great waitresses. 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We have been rigorous and willful in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/perhaps-we-have-failed-as-human-beings-perhaps-we-have-embarrassed/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Every name in a TV show has to be run by the legal department first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bellman/every-name-in-a-tv-show-has-to-be-run-by-the-legal-department-first/) [Gina Bellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bellman/) > [The director makes the movie. The director has to have the story in their head, has to know the style of the piece, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovitz/the-director-makes-the-movie-the-director-has-to-have-the-story-in/) [Jon Lovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovitz/) > [Throughout my career, when I was finished with the drawing for one film I would go up to the story department and help develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-davis/throughout-my-career-when-i-was-finished-with-the-drawing-for-one/) [Marc Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-davis/) > [I was invited to join the MGM cartoon department. But if I'd started work in animation I'd have had to take a cut in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-was-invited-to-join-the-mgm-cartoon-department-but-if-i-d-started/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Trust God for the impossible-miracles are His department. Our job is to do our best, letting the Lord do the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/trust-god-for-the-impossible-miracles-are-his-department-our-job-is/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) Browse all 1,212 Department quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Idle minds are the devil's research-and-development department.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Stacy McCain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and-development-department/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Department" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and-development-department/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/robert-stacy-mccain-36630_department_idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and_881378.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/robert-stacy-mccain-36630_department_idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and_881378.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/robert-stacy-mccain-36630_department_idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and_881378.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Idle minds are the devil's research-and-development department.” — Robert Stacy McCain", "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": "Robert Stacy McCain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Idle minds are the devil's research-and-development...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and-development-department/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/idle-minds-are-the-devil-s-research-and-development-department/#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 } } ] } ```