--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A soldier's time is passed in distress…" description: "\"A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/samuel-johnson-50_corruption_a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-a_2101070.png" --- # A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in… ![“A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/samuel-johnson-50_corruption_a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-a_2101070.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/samuel-johnson-50_corruption_a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-a_2101070.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/samuel-johnson-50_corruption_a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-a_2101070.png) > “A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Soldiers face either peril or stagnation, both harmful to character **In simple terms:** A soldier’s life swings between danger and idleness Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond mere survival in service Themes war purpose morality Mood thoughtful somber Type historical ethical When to use this quote - military service - civil duty - personal development Key Concepts ethics political theory Questions to Reflect On - What drives a soldier when not in combat? - How can societies support veterans in peace? A Different Perspective The binary may ignore nuanced experiences of soldiers ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Danger Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger-idleness-4197104/) [Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Idleness Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness-corruption-4197105/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-time-4197103/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [For the soldier of time, it breathes a summer sleep, In which his wound is good because life was. No part of him was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/for-the-soldier-of-time-it-breathes-a-summer-sleep-in-which-his-wound/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [It can be set down as a broad, general principle that we cannot indulge in idleness and abundance during both the first and second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/it-can-be-set-down-as-a-broad-general-principle-that-we-cannot/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Grief is a species of idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/grief-is-a-species-of-idleness/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Every man is, or hopes to be, an idler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-man-is-or-hopes-to-be-an-idler/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary be not idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-you-are-idle-be-not-solitary-if-you-are-solitary-be-not-idle/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment. It is commonly observed, that among soldiers and seamen, though there is much kindness, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-safe-and-general-antidote-against-sorrow-is-employment-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [As pride sometimes is hid under humility, idleness if often covered by turbulence and hurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/as-pride-sometimes-is-hid-under-humility-idleness-if-often-covered-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains-of-idleness-but-not-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [To be idle and to be poor have always been reproaches, and therefore every man endeavors with his utmost care to hide his poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-be-idle-and-to-be-poor-have-always-been-reproaches-and-therefore/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A contempt of the monuments and the wisdom of the past, may be justly reckoned one of the reigning follies of these days, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-contempt-of-the-monuments-and-the-wisdom-of-the-past-may-be-justly/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his mind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/idleness-is-often-covered-by-turbulence-and-hurry-he-that-neglects/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Criticism is a study by which men grow important and formidable at very small expense. He whom nature has made weak, and idleness keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/criticism-is-a-study-by-which-men-grow-important-and-formidable-at-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Locke, whom there is no reason to suspect of being a favorer of idleness or libertinism, has advanced that whoever hopes to employ any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/locke-whom-there-is-no-reason-to-suspect-of-being-a-favorer-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [One of the amusements of idleness is reading without the fatigue of close attention; and the world therefore swarms with writers whose wish is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/one-of-the-amusements-of-idleness-is-reading-without-the-fatigue-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Surely nothing is more reproachful to a being endowed with reason, than to resign its powers to the influence of the air, and live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/surely-nothing-is-more-reproachful-to-a-being-endowed-with-reason/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Corruption quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-zinni/in-the-lead-up-to-the-iraq-war-and-its-later-conduct-i-saw-at-a/) [Anthony Zinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-zinni/) > [“Don't let cycles of violent crimes, uncontrollable, rising cases of bloody impunity, evil puppets in a crippled judiciary, marionettes in a corrupted legislative system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-let-cycles-of-violent-crimes-uncontrollable-rising-cases-of/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [As you fight corruption, it fights back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/as-you-fight-corruption-it-fights-back/) [Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/) > [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) > [It looked incredibly credible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-horlick/it-looked-incredibly-credible/) [Nicola Horlick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-horlick/) > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) [Browse all 2,253 Corruption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-and-danger-or-in-idleness-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Corruption" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-and-danger-or-in-idleness-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/samuel-johnson-50_corruption_a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-a_2101070.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/samuel-johnson-50_corruption_a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-a_2101070.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/samuel-johnson-50_corruption_a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-a_2101070.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption.” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A soldier's time is passed in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-and-danger-or-in-idleness-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-and-danger-or-in-idleness-and/#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 } } ] } ```