--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faffing, of course, does not fit the…" description: "\"Faffing, of course, does not fit the programme. We are supposed to be busy, productive citizens.\" — Tom Hodgkinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/tom-hodgkinson-2852_busy_faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-progr_2867790.png" --- # Faffing, of course, does not fit the programme. We are… ![“Faffing, of course, does not fit the programme. We are supposed to be busy, productive citizens.” quote by Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/tom-hodgkinson-2852_busy_faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-progr_2867790.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/tom-hodgkinson-2852_busy_faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-progr_2867790.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/tom-hodgkinson-2852_busy_faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-progr_2867790.png) > “Faffing, of course, does not fit the programme. We are supposed to be busy, productive citizens.” [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Busy‑work is praised, but unnecessary tasks don’t belong in a productive life. **In simple terms:** Unnecessary tasks should be excluded from productivity. Key Takeaway Focus on meaningful work, not mere busyness. Themes productivity societal expectations time management Mood critical motivational Type social commentary self‑help When to use this quote - workplace - personal routines - social obligations Key Concepts efficiency meaningful engagement Questions to Reflect On - What tasks truly add value to your day? - How can you say no to unproductive demands? A Different Perspective May ignore the value of occasional rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Faffing Course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faffing-course-3906388/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Productive Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive-citizens-669657/) [Programme Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programme-supposed-3906387/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Supposed Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed-busy-3906389/) ## Related quotes > [I am a firm believer that upon release, ex-offenders should be afforded a second chance to become productive citizens by providing rehabilitation and education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-a-firm-believer-that-upon-release-ex-offenders-should-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can tell you what I believe, particularly about Mexican-Americans: they are a community that has contributed greatly to this country, they work extremely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-can-tell-you-what-i-believe-particularly-about-mexican-americans/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [We need happy, productive citizens on our planet for us to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-elise/we-need-happy-productive-citizens-on-our-planet-for-us-to-survive/) [Kimberly Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-elise/) > [When children do not have three square meals a day, a proper education, and at least one adult who they know loves and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-march/when-children-do-not-have-three-square-meals-a-day-a-proper-education/) [Stephanie March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-march/) > [The most important thing we stressed is that we want those kids to be productive citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-vincent/the-most-important-thing-we-stressed-is-that-we-want-those-kids-to-be/) [Troy Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-vincent/) > [I know there has long been a great frustration among the African Americans in Nevada over their belief that we have not adequately responded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-rogers/i-know-there-has-long-been-a-great-frustration-among-the-african/) [James E. Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-rogers/) > [For only by nurturing the minds and strengthening the values of our children can we give them an opportunity to be full, productive citizens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/for-only-by-nurturing-the-minds-and-strengthening-the-values-of-our/) [Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/) > [Education, when delivered properly, can benefit a lot of people and make productive citizens out of those otherwise given no hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-murray/education-when-delivered-properly-can-benefit-a-lot-of-people-and/) [John Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-murray/) > [Character, not passion keeps marriages together long enough to do their work of raising children into mature, responsible, productive citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/character-not-passion-keeps-marriages-together-long-enough-to-do/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [Thanks to Granna, Werner and Walter had grown up to be highly functioning, productive citizens - but if you were to ask Walter, Werner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/thanks-to-granna-werner-and-walter-had-grown-up-to-be-highly/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“Each child has a spark of genius waiting to be discovered, ignited, and fed. And the goal of schools shouldn’t be to manufacture “productive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-aldrich/each-child-has-a-spark-of-genius-waiting-to-be-discovered-ignited-and/) [Clark Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-aldrich/) > [Most governments want their citizens to be part of the financial system, to be productive citizens as a result of having access to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/most-governments-want-their-citizens-to-be-part-of-the-financial/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [It is not enough to be busy we must be productive. Everyone can account for every hour of the day but that does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-wright/it-is-not-enough-to-be-busy-we-must-be-productive-everyone-can/) [Randall Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-wright/) > [You don't have to get things done all the time to be productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/you-don-t-have-to-get-things-done-all-the-time-to-be-productive/) [David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) ## More by Tom Hodgkinson > [By taking out a loan, I am committing myself to years of interest repayments, and therefore to years of wage slavery. And the UK…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/by-taking-out-a-loan-i-am-committing-myself-to-years-of-interest/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/writing-a-book-is-a-brilliant-thing-because-once-you-ve-finished-it/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Beauty, pleasure, freedom and plenty of sleep: these are the hallmarks of a successful idler's break. Travel should not be hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/beauty-pleasure-freedom-and-plenty-of-sleep-these-are-the-hallmarks/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [These days we seem more bound to our bosses than ever before. We even identify our own selves with the jobs we do: 'What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/these-days-we-seem-more-bound-to-our-bosses-than-ever-before-we-even/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The way to stop feeling guilty is to read stuff - I'm not saying my book, but works by Bertrand Russell or Oscar Wilde,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/the-way-to-stop-feeling-guilty-is-to-read-stuff-i-m-not-saying-my/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The phrase 'work/life balance' encapsulates a depressing outlook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/the-phrase-work-life-balance-encapsulates-a-depressing-outlook/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [The idea of a government is to create an ordered, willing work force where there's no trouble. I think idlers are generally seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/the-idea-of-a-government-is-to-create-an-ordered-willing-work-force/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [When stuck years ago in a job I hated, my only friend was the public bench. As the tedious mornings dragged on, how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/when-stuck-years-ago-in-a-job-i-hated-my-only-friend-was-the-public/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [All poets are idlers, even if all idlers are not poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/all-poets-are-idlers-even-if-all-idlers-are-not-poets/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Pain will never leave us. Instead of putting energy into destroying pain, we need to put energy into creating pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/pain-will-never-leave-us-instead-of-putting-energy-into-destroying/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Sensible people advise against drinking on an empty stomach, but to my mind it is the best sort of drinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/sensible-people-advise-against-drinking-on-an-empty-stomach-but-to-my/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Paradoxically, to be truly idle, you also have to be efficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/paradoxically-to-be-truly-idle-you-also-have-to-be-efficient/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Am I the only person in the world who is shocked and amazed at the ongoing flattery of uebergeek Mark Zuckerberg?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/am-i-the-only-person-in-the-world-who-is-shocked-and-amazed-at-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I would like to propose slow cycling. Commute by bike. At a stroke, you remove the need for and absurd cost of public transport.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/i-would-like-to-propose-slow-cycling-commute-by-bike-at-a-stroke-you/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) [Explore all 144 Tom Hodgkinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) [Victoria Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-derbyshire/) > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) [The Shawshank Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-shawshank-redemption/) [Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Faffing, of course, does not fit the programme. We are supposed to be busy, productive citizens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Hodgkinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-programme-we-are-supposed-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-programme-we-are-supposed-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/tom-hodgkinson-2852_busy_faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-progr_2867790.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/tom-hodgkinson-2852_busy_faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-progr_2867790.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/tom-hodgkinson-2852_busy_faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-progr_2867790.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Faffing, of course, does not fit the programme. We are supposed to be busy, productive citizens.” — Tom Hodgkinson", "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": "Tom Hodgkinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Faffing, of course, does not fit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-programme-we-are-supposed-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/faffing-of-course-does-not-fit-the-programme-we-are-supposed-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```