--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who does nothing renders himself…" description: "\"He who does nothing renders himself incapable of doing any thing; but while we are executing any work, we are preparing and qualifying ourselves to und..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/william-hazlitt-326_doe_he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-inca_2908144.png" --- # He who does nothing renders himself incapable of doing any… ![“He who does nothing renders himself incapable of doing any thing; but while we are executing any work, we are preparing and qualifying ourselves to undertake another.” quote by William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/william-hazlitt-326_doe_he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-inca_2908144.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/william-hazlitt-326_doe_he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-inca_2908144.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/william-hazlitt-326_doe_he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-inca_2908144.png) > “He who does nothing renders himself incapable of doing any thing; but while we are executing any work, we are preparing and qualifying ourselves to undertake another.” [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Doing work builds skills for future tasks; inactivity prevents growth. **In simple terms:** Work builds future ability. Key Takeaway Keep acting to stay capable. Themes growth skill development responsibility Mood determined reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - academic study - personal projects Key Concepts self‑efficacy learning by doing Questions to Reflect On - What skill could you develop by starting a small task? - How does routine work prepare you for unexpected challenges? A Different Perspective No work yields no skill accumulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-thing/) [Executing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executing/) [Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable/) [Incapable Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable-doing-412134/) [Preparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparing/) [Qualifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualifying/) [Qualifying Undertake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualifying-undertake-4172534/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“LORD GORING: (after a long pause) Nobody is incapable of doing a foolish thing. Nobody is incapable of doing a wrong thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-goring-after-a-long-pause-nobody-is-incapable-of-doing-a-foolish/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The truth is that I'm constitutionally incapable of doing an ordinary job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/the-truth-is-that-i-m-constitutionally-incapable-of-doing-an-ordinary/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [My personal life absolutely goes down the drain when I start working; that's something that I'm incapable of doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/my-personal-life-absolutely-goes-down-the-drain-when-i-start-working/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“--the long luxury of your own freedom has made you incapable of doing us justice now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-long-luxury-of-your-own-freedom-has-made-you-incapable-of-doing/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. 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But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/men-often-become-what-they-believe-themselves-to-be-if-i-believe-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I may have a talent for acting, but I am incapable of doing anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-may-have-a-talent-for-acting-but-i-am-incapable-of-doing-anything/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) > [“I certainly find it difficult to relate to people who seem incapable of doing anything on their own, needing company even whilst simply watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-certainly-find-it-difficult-to-relate-to-people-who-seem-incapable/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [“Backbiting is the attempt of one who is incapable of doing better himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-ali-ibn-abu-talib-a-s/backbiting-is-the-attempt-of-one-who-is-incapable-of-doing-better/) [Hazrat Ali Ibn Abu-Talib A.S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-ali-ibn-abu-talib-a-s/) > [People become dons because they are incapable of doing anything else in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-n-wilson/people-become-dons-because-they-are-incapable-of-doing-anything-else/) [A. N. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-n-wilson/) > [Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something,it makes me incapable of doing it. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/men-often-become-what-they-believe-themselves-to-be-if-i-believe-i-2/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by William Hazlitt > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-art-of-life-is-to-know-how-to-enjoy-a-little-and-to-endure-very/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We are thankful for good-will rather than for services, for the motive than the quantum of favor received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-are-thankful-for-good-will-rather-than-for-services-for-the-motive/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The discussing the characters and foibles of common friends is a great sweetness and cement of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-discussing-the-characters-and-foibles-of-common-friends-is-a/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Want of principle is power. Truth and honesty set a limit to our efforts, which impudence and hypocrisy easily overleap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/want-of-principle-is-power-truth-and-honesty-set-a-limit-to-our/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Repose is as necessary in conversation as in a picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/repose-is-as-necessary-in-conversation-as-in-a-picture/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [No act terminating in itself constitutes greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/no-act-terminating-in-itself-constitutes-greatness/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Vice is man's nature: virtue is a habit--or a mask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/vice-is-man-s-nature-virtue-is-a-habit-or-a-mask/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We never do anything well till we cease to think about the manner doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-never-do-anything-well-till-we-cease-to-think-about-the-manner/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/man-is-the-only-animal-that-laughs-and-weeps-for-he-is-the-only/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Those who have had none of the cares of this life to harass and disturb them, have been obliged to have recourse to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/those-who-have-had-none-of-the-cares-of-this-life-to-harass-and/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Poverty, when it is voluntary, is never despicable, but takes an heroical aspect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/poverty-when-it-is-voluntary-is-never-despicable-but-takes-an/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We are not satisfied to be right, unless we can prove others to be quite wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-are-not-satisfied-to-be-right-unless-we-can-prove-others-to-be/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The world judge of men by their ability in their profession, and we judge of ourselves by the same test: for it is on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-world-judge-of-men-by-their-ability-in-their-profession-and-we/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The best part of our lives we pass in counting on what is to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-best-part-of-our-lives-we-pass-in-counting-on-what-is-to-come/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) [Explore all 671 William Hazlitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) [Browse all 25,574 Doe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who does nothing renders himself incapable of doing any thing; but while we are executing any work, we are preparing and qualifying ourselves to undertake another.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Hazlitt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-incapable-of-doing-any-thing-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-incapable-of-doing-any-thing-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/william-hazlitt-326_doe_he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-inca_2908144.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/william-hazlitt-326_doe_he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-inca_2908144.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/william-hazlitt-326_doe_he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-inca_2908144.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who does nothing renders himself incapable of doing any thing; but while we are executing any work, we…” — William Hazlitt", "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": "William Hazlitt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who does nothing renders himself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-incapable-of-doing-any-thing-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/he-who-does-nothing-renders-himself-incapable-of-doing-any-thing-but/#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 } } ] } ```