--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Determine never to be idle. No person…" description: "\"Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-jefferson-43_determine_determine-never-to-be-idle-no-person-wil_2691748.jpg" --- # Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion… ![“Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-jefferson-43_determine_determine-never-to-be-idle-no-person-wil_2691748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-jefferson-43_determine_determine-never-to-be-idle-no-person-wil_2691748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-jefferson-43_determine_determine-never-to-be-idle-no-person-wil_2691748.jpg) > “Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idle time invites complaints; constant activity maximizes productivity. **In simple terms:** Being busy prevents feeling short of time. Key Takeaway Stay active and purposeful. Themes productivity time management activity Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - daily tasks - career development - creative work - volunteering Key Concepts work ethic efficiency goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What tasks truly add value? - How do you schedule rest? A Different Perspective Constant busyness may lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/determine-never-to-be-idle-no-person-will-have-occasion-to-complain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One who does not rouse themself when it is time to rise, who, though capable, is full of sloth, whose will and thought are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-who-does-not-rouse-themself-when-it-is-time-to-rise-who-though/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“A man doesn't have time in his life to have time for everything. He doesn't have seasons enough to have a season for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-amichai/a-man-doesn-t-have-time-in-his-life-to-have-time-for-everything-he/) [Yehuda Amichai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-amichai/) > [“Physical pain was easy. It would always pass. All it needed was time—a ticking clock—and all you had to do was wait. Time always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-knight/physical-pain-was-easy-it-would-always-pass-all-it-needed-was-time-a/) [Sidney Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-knight/) > [“Jelly-bean" is the name throughout the undissolved Confederacy for one who spends his life conjugating the verb to idle in the first person singular-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/jelly-bean-is-the-name-throughout-the-undissolved-confederacy-for-one/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“A buddha is an idle person. He doesn't run around after fortune and fame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/a-buddha-is-an-idle-person-he-doesn-t-run-around-after-fortune-and/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-wonderful-how-much-may-be-done-if-we-are-always-doing/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Education is here placed among the articles of public care, not that it would be proposed to take its ordinary branches out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/education-is-here-placed-among-the-articles-of-public-care-not-that/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I want to take time to understand life. I want to travel. I want to be a better person, a better Mom. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-want-to-take-time-to-understand-life-i-want-to-travel-i-want-to-be/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I guess happiness is not a state you want to be in all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-belushi/i-guess-happiness-is-not-a-state-you-want-to-be-in-all-the-time/) [John Belushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-belushi/) > [“Babe, the only times I've been in you have been too fast. The next time I strip you down, I want to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/babe-the-only-times-i-ve-been-in-you-have-been-too-fast-the-next-time/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“I don’t want to put a time limit on what we could have. I just…I just want to be with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-halston/i-don-t-want-to-put-a-time-limit-on-what-we-could-have-i-just-i-just/) [Sidney Halston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-halston/) > [There will come a time where you want to give up, a time where you feel like nothing will get better... It will get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haeley/there-will-come-a-time-where-you-want-to-give-up-a-time-where-you/) Haeley > [I don't want to turn 50 and say, 'Gosh, I wish I'd lived in that part of the world for a time. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/i-don-t-want-to-turn-50-and-say-gosh-i-wish-i-d-lived-in-that-part-of/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [Don't be afraid of what you want. This is your time. The barriers are down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/don-t-be-afraid-of-what-you-want-this-is-your-time-the-barriers-are/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Determine quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [Thought determines action. Do not let your whole life be a reaction to the things that happen around you each day. Let your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/thought-determines-action-do-not-let-your-whole-life-be-a-reaction-to/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourself-don-t-live-entirely-upon/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Choices determine character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/choices-determine-character/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [All writers are forced to live within deadlines, and deadlines determine how good they can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/all-writers-are-forced-to-live-within-deadlines-and-deadlines/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/alfred-nobel-stipulated-that-no-distinction-of-race-or-colour-will/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [The enmity of such a party towards Socialism does not mean that the members are only prejudiced against it because they do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-radek/the-enmity-of-such-a-party-towards-socialism-does-not-mean-that-the/) [Karl Radek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-radek/) > [It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that-determines-their-being-but-on/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Running gives freedom. When you run you can determine your own tempo. You can choose your own course and think whatever you want. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-kuscsik/running-gives-freedom-when-you-run-you-can-determine-your-own-tempo/) [Nina Kuscsik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-kuscsik/) > [I've ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I'm going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/i-ve-ultimately-decided-that-i-will-not-play-this-nba-season-i-m/) [Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/) > [The things you do determine the way people perceive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-things-you-do-determine-the-way-people-perceive-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) Browse all 2,194 Determine quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Determine never to be idle. 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