--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is idleness that is the curse of man…" description: "\"It is idleness that is the curse of man - not labour. Idleness eats the heart out of men as of nations, and consumes them as rust does iron.\" — Samuel ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/samuel-smiles-2037_consumes_it-is-idleness-that-is-the-curse-of-man_2536667.png" --- # It is idleness that is the curse of man - not labour… ![“It is idleness that is the curse of man - not labour. Idleness eats the heart out of men as of nations, and consumes them as rust does iron.” quote by Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/samuel-smiles-2037_consumes_it-is-idleness-that-is-the-curse-of-man_2536667.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/samuel-smiles-2037_consumes_it-is-idleness-that-is-the-curse-of-man_2536667.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/samuel-smiles-2037_consumes_it-is-idleness-that-is-the-curse-of-man_2536667.png) > “It is idleness that is the curse of man - not labour. Idleness eats the heart out of men as of nations, and consumes them as rust does iron.” [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idleness erodes personal and societal strength, while labor builds character and progress. **In simple terms:** Idleness weakens; work strengthens. Key Takeaway Choose productive effort over idle habits. Themes work discipline societal health personal growth Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career development - national policy - personal habits - community building Key Concepts Moral philosophy economic productivity Questions to Reflect On - How does idle time affect your goals? - What productive habits replace idleness? A Different Perspective Idleness can sometimes foster creativity; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumes/) [Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Eats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eats/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Idleness Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness-curse-1394900/) [Idleness Eats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness-eats-1394901/) [Iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Labour Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour-idleness-1394899/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Man Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-labour-1010061/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rust/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) ## Related quotes > [Upon this subject, the habits of our whole species fall into three great classes--useful labour, useless labour and idleness. Of these the first only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/upon-this-subject-the-habits-of-our-whole-species-fall-into-three/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“man has retained a love of idleness, but the curse weighs on the race not only because we have to seek our bread in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/man-has-retained-a-love-of-idleness-but-the-curse-weighs-on-the-race/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I am called to man's labour; why then do I make a difficulty if I am going out to do what I was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-am-called-to-man-s-labour-why-then-do-i-make-a-difficulty-if-i-am/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“The separation between the Man of Labour and the Instruments of Labout once established, such a state of things will maintain itself and reproduce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-separation-between-the-man-of-labour-and-the-instruments-of/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Nothing should be made by man's labour which is not worth making, or which must be made by labour degrading to the makers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/nothing-should-be-made-by-man-s-labour-which-is-not-worth-making-or/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [Such is the constitution of man that labour may be styled its own reward; nor will any external incitements be requisite, if it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/such-is-the-constitution-of-man-that-labour-may-be-styled-its-own/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“What man's labour cannot do in ten years, GOD's favour can settle it in ten seconds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osunsakin-adewale/what-man-s-labour-cannot-do-in-ten-years-god-s-favour-can-settle-it/) [Osunsakin Adewale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osunsakin-adewale/) > [I'm really not a person who consumes a lot. I don't have a sports car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/i-m-really-not-a-person-who-consumes-a-lot-i-don-t-have-a-sports-car/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [“Fire consumes.' Lord Beric stood behind them, and there was something in his voice that silenced Thoros at once. 'It consumes, and when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/fire-consumes-lord-beric-stood-behind-them-and-there-was-something-in/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“She consumes me like a bright fire burning deep within my ribs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-diedrich/she-consumes-me-like-a-bright-fire-burning-deep-within-my-ribs/) [Kirk Diedrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-diedrich/) > [“She consumes me with her eyes, her fiery touch, and the ways in which she loves me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-snyder/she-consumes-me-with-her-eyes-her-fiery-touch-and-the-ways-in-which/) [T.H. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-snyder/) > [That's what humanity is: a series of successes and failures, a testing of one's own nature and aptitude. Neither the body nor the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/that-s-what-humanity-is-a-series-of-successes-and-failures-a-testing/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Music, music, music. It doesn't get much better than that! It pretty much consumes my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/music-music-music-it-doesn-t-get-much-better-than-that-it-pretty-much/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-consumes-us-only-in-the-measure-of-our-self-surrender/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/man-is-the-only-creature-that-consumes-without-producing-he-does-not/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## More by Samuel Smiles > [Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/biographies-of-great-but-especially-of-good-men-are-most-instructive/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The women of the poorer classes make sacrifices, and run risks, and bear privations, and exercise patience and kindness to a degree that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-women-of-the-poorer-classes-make-sacrifices-and-run-risks-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The experience gathered from books, though often valuable, is but of the nature of learning; whereas, the experience gained from actual life is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-experience-gathered-from-books-though-often-valuable-is-but-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-spirit-of-self-help-is-the-root-of-all-genuine-growth-in-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-wise-man-if-he-would-live-at-peace-with-others-he-will-bear-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Those who are the most persistent, and work in the true spirit, will invariably be the most successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/those-who-are-the-most-persistent-and-work-in-the-true-spirit-will/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The iron rail proved a magicians' road. It virtually reduced England to a sixth of its size. It brought the country nearer to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-iron-rail-proved-a-magicians-road-it-virtually-reduced-england-to/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [This extraordinary metal, the soul of every manufacture, and the mainspring perhaps of civilised society. Of iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/this-extraordinary-metal-the-soul-of-every-manufacture-and-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Man cannot aspire if he looked down; if he rise, he must look up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/man-cannot-aspire-if-he-looked-down-if-he-rise-he-must-look-up/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-life-of-a-good-man-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-eloquent-lesson/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman-and-has-been-recognized-as-a/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/many-are-the-lives-of-men-unwritten-which-have-nevertheless-as/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) [Explore all 189 Samuel Smiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## More Consumes quotes > [“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. 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Neither the body nor the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/that-s-what-humanity-is-a-series-of-successes-and-failures-a-testing/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“She consumes me with her eyes, her fiery touch, and the ways in which she loves me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-snyder/she-consumes-me-with-her-eyes-her-fiery-touch-and-the-ways-in-which/) [T.H. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-snyder/) > [“She consumes me like a bright fire burning deep within my ribs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-diedrich/she-consumes-me-like-a-bright-fire-burning-deep-within-my-ribs/) [Kirk Diedrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-diedrich/) > [“Fire consumes.' Lord Beric stood behind them, and there was something in his voice that silenced Thoros at once. 'It consumes, and when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/fire-consumes-lord-beric-stood-behind-them-and-there-was-something-in/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [I'm really not a person who consumes a lot. I don't have a sports car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/i-m-really-not-a-person-who-consumes-a-lot-i-don-t-have-a-sports-car/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [“Whatever is eating her brain consumes only the fresher memories, the unripe moments”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-dean/whatever-is-eating-her-brain-consumes-only-the-fresher-memories-the/) [Debra Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-dean/) > [“The way fire moves, it consumes you. It's so beautiful you want to touch it but you know you can't. I think that's part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/the-way-fire-moves-it-consumes-you-it-s-so-beautiful-you-want-to/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [“What we consume, consumes us. What you focus on shapes you. What you fix your gaze on will ultimately begin to shape your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hise/what-we-consume-consumes-us-what-you-focus-on-shapes-you-what-you-fix/) [Pete Hise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hise/) > [Fire consumes, but cold preserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fire-consumes-but-cold-preserves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I devour her. And she consumes me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-snow/i-devour-her-and-she-consumes-me/) [Emily Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-snow/) > [“My love consumes me. Only my voice is left, a voice which has fallen in love with you whispers to you everywhere that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/my-love-consumes-me-only-my-voice-is-left-a-voice-which-has-fallen-in/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [Happiness consumes itself like a flame. 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