--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He that never labors may know the pains…" description: "\"He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/samuel-johnson-50_idleness_he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains_957516.png" --- # He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but… ![“He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/samuel-johnson-50_idleness_he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains_957516.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/samuel-johnson-50_idleness_he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains_957516.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/samuel-johnson-50_idleness_he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains_957516.png) > “He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures.” [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. Those who avoid work may understand idleness’s pain but miss its pleasures. **In simple terms:** Avoiding work brings pain, not pleasure. Key Takeaway Balance effort with rest to enjoy both. Themes work idleness pleasure Mood contemplative balanced Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - career planning - leisure activities - time management Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What defines productive leisure for you? - How can you integrate joy into work? A Different Perspective Pleasure can be found in purposeful idleness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Relaxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relaxation/) ## Related quotes > [“Do you know what pains me the most about you? Do you? Having all of that bottled up inside of your soul all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zuky-rose-leigh/do-you-know-what-pains-me-the-most-about-you-do-you-having-all-of/) [Zuky rose Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zuky-rose-leigh/) > [Idleness leads to relaxation, sooner or later bringing about ideological and material corruption, accompanied by lack of discipline, anarchy chaos and defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samora-machel/idleness-leads-to-relaxation-sooner-or-later-bringing-about/) [Samora Machel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samora-machel/) > [Of the time that is allotted to man here on the earth there is none to lose or waste. After suitable rest and relaxation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/of-the-time-that-is-allotted-to-man-here-on-the-earth-there-is-none/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [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/) > [A soldier's time is passed in distress and danger, or in idleness and corruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-soldier-s-time-is-passed-in-distress-and-danger-or-in-idleness-and/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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 Idleness quotes > [“Idleness is seductive. Just relax and do nothing, it says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/idleness-is-seductive-just-relax-and-do-nothing-it-says/) [Innocent Mwatsikesimbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/) > [“Virtue? A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/virtue-a-fig-tis-in-ourselves-that-we-are-thus-or-thus-our-bodies-are/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The frivolous work of polished idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mackintosh/the-frivolous-work-of-polished-idleness/) [James Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mackintosh/) > [We are more heavily taxed by our idleness, pride and folly than we are taxed by government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/we-are-more-heavily-taxed-by-our-idleness-pride-and-folly-than-we-are/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Doing nothing is the hardest torture that a person can put himself through. For he is always brought face to face with his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwan-goll/doing-nothing-is-the-hardest-torture-that-a-person-can-put-himself/) [Iwan Goll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwan-goll/) > [Inactivity and deprivation of all accustomed stimulus is not rest; it is a preparation for the tomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/inactivity-and-deprivation-of-all-accustomed-stimulus-is-not-rest-it/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [“Liza had a finely developed sense of sin Idleness was a sin, and card playing, which was a kind of idleness to her. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/liza-had-a-finely-developed-sense-of-sin-idleness-was-a-sin-and-card/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Idleness is paralysis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roswell-dwight-hitchcock/idleness-is-paralysis/) [Roswell Dwight Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roswell-dwight-hitchcock/) > [The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover, Wanting the scythe, all uncorrected, rank, Conceives by idleness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-even-mead-that-erst-brought-sweetly-forth-the-freckled-cowslip/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredness, in work. Were he never so benighted, forgetful of his high calling, there is always hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/there-is-a-perennial-nobleness-and-even-sacredness-in-work-were-he/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Great talents, by the rust of long disuse, Grow lethargic and shrink from what they were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/great-talents-by-the-rust-of-long-disuse-grow-lethargic-and-shrink/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Far from idleness being the root of all evil, it is rather the only true good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/far-from-idleness-being-the-root-of-all-evil-it-is-rather-the-only/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“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 > [Let us be grateful to Adam: he cut us out of the blessing of idleness and won for us the curse of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/let-us-be-grateful-to-adam-he-cut-us-out-of-the-blessing-of-idleness/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If I gave my mother a knitted scarf she'd be worried I was wasting my time doing stupid stuff like knitting instead of school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/if-i-gave-my-mother-a-knitted-scarf-she-d-be-worried-i-was-wasting-my/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) [Browse all 564 Idleness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains-of-idleness-but-not-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Idleness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains-of-idleness-but-not-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/samuel-johnson-50_idleness_he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains_957516.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/samuel-johnson-50_idleness_he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains_957516.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/samuel-johnson-50_idleness_he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains_957516.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He that never labors may know the pains of idleness, but not the pleasures.” — 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": "He that never labors may know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains-of-idleness-but-not-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-never-labors-may-know-the-pains-of-idleness-but-not-the/#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 } } ] } ```