--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An industrious sinner I much prefer to a…" description: "\"An industrious sinner I much prefer to a lazy saint.\" — Sophie Kerr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/sophie-kerr-79733_industrious_an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a_1572934.png" --- # An industrious sinner I much prefer to a lazy saint. ![“An industrious sinner I much prefer to a lazy saint.” quote by Sophie Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/sophie-kerr-79733_industrious_an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a_1572934.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/sophie-kerr-79733_industrious_an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a_1572934.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/sophie-kerr-79733_industrious_an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a_1572934.png) > “An industrious sinner I much prefer to a lazy saint.” Sophie Kerr ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work is valued more than idle virtue; effort beats laziness. **In simple terms:** Work beats laziness. Key Takeaway Choose effort over idleness. Themes work ethic virtue productivity Mood thoughtful balanced Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career building - daily chores - community service Key Concepts moral philosophy social critique Questions to Reflect On - Is effort always better than rest? - When does rest become productive? A Different Perspective Hard work may not always lead to happiness or fairness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) ## Related quotes > [“Gamification is designed to raise productivity where people would prefer to be lazy. In many contexts, laziness is the human default.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-alter/gamification-is-designed-to-raise-productivity-where-people-would/) [Adam Alter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-alter/) > [Take us generally as a people, we are neither lazy nor idle; and considering how little we have to excite or stimulate us, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-w-stewart/take-us-generally-as-a-people-we-are-neither-lazy-nor-idle-and/) [Maria W. Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-w-stewart/) > [The lazy manage to keep up with the earth's rotation just as well as the industrious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-lazy-manage-to-keep-up-with-the-earth-s-rotation-just-as-well-as/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Fortune has often been blamed for her blindness; but fortune is not so blind as men are. Those who look into practical life will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/fortune-has-often-been-blamed-for-her-blindness-but-fortune-is-not-so/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [An absolute monarch, who is rich without patrimony, may be charitable without merit; and Constantine too easily believed that he should purchase the favour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/an-absolute-monarch-who-is-rich-without-patrimony-may-be-charitable/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Equipped with cell phones, beepers, and handheld computers, the 'conspicuously industrious' blur the line between home and office by working anytime, anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-davis/equipped-with-cell-phones-beepers-and-handheld-computers-the/) [Jo Ann Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-ann-davis/) > [Out of our first century of national life we evolved the ethical principle that it was not right or just that an honest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-perkins/out-of-our-first-century-of-national-life-we-evolved-the-ethical/) [Frances Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-perkins/) > [The entire object of true education is to make people not merely do the right things, but enjoy the right things — not merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-entire-object-of-true-education-is-to-make-people-not-merely-do/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [In the world of high finance the shilling of the idle rich man can buy more than that of the poor, industrious man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-the-world-of-high-finance-the-shilling-of-the-idle-rich-man-can/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Fools wait for a lucky day, but everyday is a lucky day for an industrious man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/fools-wait-for-a-lucky-day-but-everyday-is-a-lucky-day-for-an/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [There is precious little hope to be got out of whatever keeps us industrious, but there is a chance for us whenever we cease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-tomlinson/there-is-precious-little-hope-to-be-got-out-of-whatever-keeps-us/) [H. M. Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-tomlinson/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I would like, then, to end by putting in a good word for the non-industrious poor. At least they aren’t hurting anyone. Insofar as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/i-would-like-then-to-end-by-putting-in-a-good-word-for-the-non/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Nature, being a wise and provident lady, governs her parts very wisely, methodically, and orderly: Also, she is very industrious and hates to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cavendish/nature-being-a-wise-and-provident-lady-governs-her-parts-very-wisely/) [Margaret Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cavendish/) ## More by Sophie Kerr > [If peace . . . only had the music and pageantry of war, there'd be no wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kerr/if-peace-only-had-the-music-and-pageantry-of-war-there-d-be-no-wars/) Sophie Kerr > [The longing to produce great inspirations didn't produce anything but more longing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kerr/the-longing-to-produce-great-inspirations-didn-t-produce-anything-but/) Sophie Kerr Explore all 3 Sophie Kerr quotes ## More Industrious quotes > [Nature, being a wise and provident lady, governs her parts very wisely, methodically, and orderly: Also, she is very industrious and hates to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cavendish/nature-being-a-wise-and-provident-lady-governs-her-parts-very-wisely/) [Margaret Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cavendish/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I would like, then, to end by putting in a good word for the non-industrious poor. At least they aren’t hurting anyone. Insofar as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/i-would-like-then-to-end-by-putting-in-a-good-word-for-the-non/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [There is precious little hope to be got out of whatever keeps us industrious, but there is a chance for us whenever we cease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-tomlinson/there-is-precious-little-hope-to-be-got-out-of-whatever-keeps-us/) [H. M. Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-tomlinson/) > [Fools wait for a lucky day, but everyday is a lucky day for an industrious man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/fools-wait-for-a-lucky-day-but-everyday-is-a-lucky-day-for-an/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [In the world of high finance the shilling of the idle rich man can buy more than that of the poor, industrious man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-the-world-of-high-finance-the-shilling-of-the-idle-rich-man-can/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The entire object of true education is to make people not merely do the right things, but enjoy the right things — not merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-entire-object-of-true-education-is-to-make-people-not-merely-do/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Out of our first century of national life we evolved the ethical principle that it was not right or just that an honest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-perkins/out-of-our-first-century-of-national-life-we-evolved-the-ethical/) [Frances Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-perkins/) > [Equipped with cell phones, beepers, and handheld computers, the 'conspicuously industrious' blur the line between home and office by working anytime, anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-davis/equipped-with-cell-phones-beepers-and-handheld-computers-the/) [Jo Ann Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-ann-davis/) > [An absolute monarch, who is rich without patrimony, may be charitable without merit; and Constantine too easily believed that he should purchase the favour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/an-absolute-monarch-who-is-rich-without-patrimony-may-be-charitable/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Fortune has often been blamed for her blindness; but fortune is not so blind as men are. Those who look into practical life will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/fortune-has-often-been-blamed-for-her-blindness-but-fortune-is-not-so/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Vanity is the natural weakness of an ambitious man, which exposes him to the secret scorn and derision of those he converses with, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/vanity-is-the-natural-weakness-of-an-ambitious-man-which-exposes-him/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [You must obey this now for a Law, that he that will not worke shall not eate (except by sickness he be disabled:) for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smith/you-must-obey-this-now-for-a-law-that-he-that-will-not-worke-shall/) [John Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smith/) > [I propose a limitation be put on how many sqares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-propose-a-limitation-be-put-on-how-many-sqares-of-toilet-paper-can/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) Browse all 168 Industrious quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An industrious sinner I much prefer to a lazy saint.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophie Kerr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kerr/an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a-lazy-saint/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Industrious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kerr/an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a-lazy-saint/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/sophie-kerr-79733_industrious_an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a_1572934.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/sophie-kerr-79733_industrious_an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a_1572934.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/sophie-kerr-79733_industrious_an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a_1572934.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An industrious sinner I much prefer to a lazy saint.” — Sophie Kerr", "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": "Sophie Kerr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kerr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An industrious sinner I much prefer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kerr/an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a-lazy-saint/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kerr/an-industrious-sinner-i-much-prefer-to-a-lazy-saint/#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 } } ] } ```