--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Believe me, I do not like idleness but…" description: "\"Believe me, I do not like idleness but work.\" — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-4369_believe_believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-wo_395078.jpg" --- # Believe me, I do not like idleness but work. ![“Believe me, I do not like idleness but work.” quote by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-4369_believe_believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-wo_395078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-4369_believe_believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-wo_395078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-4369_believe_believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-wo_395078.jpg) > “Believe me, I do not like idleness but work.” [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits he dislikes idleness and prefers work. **In simple terms:** He values activity over doing nothing. Key Takeaway Stay busy and productive. Themes work ethic productivity personal discipline Mood motivational reflective Type personal advice When to use this quote - career development - daily routine - overcoming procrastination - skill mastery Key Concepts self‑motivation creative output Questions to Reflect On - What work gives you purpose? - How do you balance work and rest? A Different Perspective May ignore need for rest and creative downtime. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idleness/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“Idleness is seductive. Just relax and do nothing, it says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/idleness-is-seductive-just-relax-and-do-nothing-it-says/) [Innocent Mwatsikesimbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/) > [Observe a method in the distribution of your time. Every hour will then know its proper employment, and no time will be lost. Idleness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hartwell-horne/observe-a-method-in-the-distribution-of-your-time-every-hour-will/) [Thomas Hartwell Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hartwell-horne/) > [He who saddens at thought of idleness cannot be idle, / And he's awake who thinks himself asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/he-who-saddens-at-thought-of-idleness-cannot-be-idle-and-he-s-awake/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The idle brain is the devil's playground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lange/the-idle-brain-is-the-devil-s-playground/) [Eric Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lange/) > [It can be set down as a broad, general principle that we cannot indulge in idleness and abundance during both the first and second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/it-can-be-set-down-as-a-broad-general-principle-that-we-cannot/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Wasting time is negative, but there is something positive about idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-lynes/wasting-time-is-negative-but-there-is-something-positive-about/) [Russell Lynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-lynes/) > [The reason of idleness and of crime is the deferring of our hopes. Whilst we are waiting, we beguile the time with jokes, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-reason-of-idleness-and-of-crime-is-the-deferring-of-our-hopes/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Idleness is an expert thief,and our mind is its victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abid-al-qarni/idleness-is-an-expert-thief-and-our-mind-is-its-victim/) Abid Al Qarni > [Timing is everything. Tell me how a young man spends his evenings and I will tell you how far he is likely to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/timing-is-everything-tell-me-how-a-young-man-spends-his-evenings-and/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [“Reality has a tendency to reveal itself when man is idle, and so it is because of this that idleness is often regarded as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vd/reality-has-a-tendency-to-reveal-itself-when-man-is-idle-and-so-it-is/) VD > [Idleness is paralysis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roswell-dwight-hitchcock/idleness-is-paralysis/) [Roswell Dwight Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roswell-dwight-hitchcock/) > [“Liza had a finely developed sense of sin Idleness was a sin, and card playing, which was a kind of idleness to her. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/liza-had-a-finely-developed-sense-of-sin-idleness-was-a-sin-and-card/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The frivolous work of polished idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mackintosh/the-frivolous-work-of-polished-idleness/) [James Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mackintosh/) > [A faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/a-faculty-for-idleness-implies-a-catholic-appetite-and-a-strong-sense/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) ## More by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [Even when I can play Europe's most precious keyboard, to have to listen to people who don't understand, or do not want to understand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/even-when-i-can-play-europe-s-most-precious-keyboard-to-have-to/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what anyone tells them and do not choose to judge for themselves! But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/how-sad-it-is-that-these-great-gentlemen-should-believe-what-anyone/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [When I am travelling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/when-i-am-travelling-in-a-carriage-or-walking-after-a-good-meal-or/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [Just as people behave to me, so do I behave to them. When I see that a person despises me and treats me with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/just-as-people-behave-to-me-so-do-i-behave-to-them-when-i-see-that-a/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [God is ever before my eyes. I realize his omnipotence and I fear His anger; but I also recognize his compassion, and His tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/god-is-ever-before-my-eyes-i-realize-his-omnipotence-and-i-fear-his/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [I should like to know for what reason idleness is so popular with many young people that it is impossible to dissuade them from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/i-should-like-to-know-for-what-reason-idleness-is-so-popular-with/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [“Stay with me to-night; you must see me die. I have long had the taste of death on my tongue, I smell death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/stay-with-me-to-night-you-must-see-me-die-i-have-long-had-the-taste/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/as-death-when-we-come-to-consider-it-closely-is-the-true-goal-of-our/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [Now let the matter rest as it is, or as it may be, what avail useless speculations? What is to occur we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/now-let-the-matter-rest-as-it-is-or-as-it-may-be-what-avail-useless/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [Music, in even the most terrible situations, must never offend the ear but always remain a source of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/music-in-even-the-most-terrible-situations-must-never-offend-the-ear/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [“It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/it-is-a-mistake-to-think-that-the-practice-of-my-art-has-become-easy/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [Now there is music from which a man can learn something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/now-there-is-music-from-which-a-man-can-learn-something/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [Versification is, indeed, indispensable for music, but rhyme, solely for rhyming's sake, most pernicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/versification-is-indeed-indispensable-for-music-but-rhyme-solely-for/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [Our riches, being in our brains, die with us... Unless of course someone chops off our head, in which case, we won't need them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/our-riches-being-in-our-brains-die-with-us-unless-of-course-someone/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) [Explore all 110 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Believe me, I do not like idleness but work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-work/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-work/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-4369_believe_believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-wo_395078.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-4369_believe_believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-wo_395078.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-4369_believe_believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-wo_395078.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Believe me, I do not like idleness but work.” — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart", "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": "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Believe me, I do not like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-work/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/believe-me-i-do-not-like-idleness-but-work/#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 } } ] } ```