# Quotes about laziness

- Quotes: 40
- Authors: 36
- Broader topic: [Quotes about character](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/character.md)
- Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness
- JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.json

## Quotes

> It had been one of those warm late spring days when no air moves and nothing else wants to. Not oppressively hot—just warm enough to enervate and to cause attacks of acute vernal inertia.

[Randall Garrett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randall-garrett.md) · [Lord Darcy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randall-garrett/lord-darcy.md) · p. 499 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randall-garrett/lord-darcy/it-had-been.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> A day
>
> Spent in a round of strenuous idleness.

[William Wordsworth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-wordsworth.md) · [The Prelude](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-wordsworth/the-prelude.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-wordsworth/the-prelude/a-day-spent.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Multitudes of hours
>
> Pilfered away, by what the Bard who sang
>
> Of the Enchanter Indolence hath called
>
> "Good-natured lounging," and behold a map
>
> Of my collegiate life.

[William Wordsworth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-wordsworth.md) · [The Prelude](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-wordsworth/the-prelude.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-wordsworth/the-prelude/multitudes-of-hours.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Who would’ve thought doing nothing all the time would turn out to be so damn tiring?

[Lev Grossman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman.md) · [Warp](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman/warp.md) · p. 175 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman/warp/who-wouldve-thought.md)

Topics: [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md), [exhaustion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/exhaustion-2.md)

> To tell the truth, the only thing more exhausting than doing something is doing nothing at all.

[Jack L. Chalker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker.md) · [Midnight at the Well of Souls](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker/midnight-at-the-well-of-souls.md) · p. 25 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker/midnight-at-the-well-of-souls/to-tell-the.md)

Topics: [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md), [exhaustion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/exhaustion-2.md)

> "Hoping is what people do when they're too lazy to do anything else."

[Tim Winton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tim-winton.md) · [Cloudstreet](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tim-winton/cloudstreet.md) · p. 175 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tim-winton/cloudstreet/hoping-is-what.md)

Topics: [hope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hope.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Bob seems to know almost everything; but he doesn’t know when or why people stopped reading. “Most people are too lazy,” he said. “They only want distractions.”

[Walter Tevis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis.md) · [Mockingbird](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis/mockingbird.md) · p. 114 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/walter-tevis/mockingbird/bob-seems-to-know.md)

Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> He could see now what a lot of his mistakes had been—laziness among them. And laziness is curable.

[Fredric Brown](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fredric-brown.md) · [What Mad Universe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fredric-brown/what-mad-universe.md) · p. 80 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fredric-brown/what-mad-universe/he-could-see.md)

Topics: [mistakes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/mistakes.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> People may point to all of this as evidence that we humans are becoming more honest and truthful, but human nature does not change within a few generations. People have become more obvious and forthright not out of some deep moral calling but out of increasing self-absorption and overall laziness. It requires no effort to simply be oneself or to blast one’s message. And the lack of effort simply results in a lack of effect on other people’s psychology. It means that people’s interest in you will be paper thin. Their attention will quickly move on and you will not see the reason for this. Do not swallow the easy moralism of the day, which urges honesty at the expense of desirability. Go in the opposite direction. With so few people out there who understand the art of desirability, it affords you endless opportunities to shine and exploit people’s repressed fantasies.

[Robert Greene](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene.md) · [The Laws of Human Nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature/people-may-point.md)

Topics: [honesty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/honesty.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> I try to avoid having thoughts. They lead to other thoughts, and—if you're not careful—those lead to actions. Actions make you tired. I have this on rather good authority from someone who once read it in a book.

[Brandon Sanderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson.md) · [Warbreaker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/warbreaker.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/warbreaker/i-try-to-avoid.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> We seldom call any body lazy, but such as we reckon inferior to us, and of whom we expect some Service.

[Bernard Mandeville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville.md) · [The Fable of the Bees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville/the-fable-of-the-bees.md) · p. 267 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville/the-fable-of-the-bees/we-seldom-call.md)

Topics: [judging others](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/judging-others.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> I will act now.
>
> For now is all I have. Tomorrow is the day reserved for the labor of the lazy. I am not lazy. Tomorrow is the day when the evil become good. I am not evil. Tomorrow is the day when the weak become strong. I am not weak. Tomorrow is the day when the failure will succeed. I am not a failure.
>
> I will act now.

[Og Mandino](https://www.leafyquotes.com/og-mandino.md) · [The Greatest Salesman in the World](https://www.leafyquotes.com/og-mandino/the-greatest-salesman-in-the-world.md) · p. 96 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/og-mandino/the-greatest-salesman-in-the-world/i-will-act-now.md)

Topics: [taking action](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/taking-action.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> The task that lies before me is daunting and the rewards are uncertain. I should probably let someone else do it.

[John S. Hall](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-s-hall.md) · [Daily Negations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-s-hall/daily-negations.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-s-hall/daily-negations/the-task-that.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> She had found that her wits became dull if she got too cozy.

[Neal Stephenson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson.md) · [The Diamond Age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/the-diamond-age/she-had-found.md)

Topics: [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Suddenly, it seemed to me that the entire world was like a palace with countless rooms whose doors opened into one another. We were able to pass from one room to the next only by exercising our memories and imaginations, but most of us, in our laziness, rarely exercised these capacities, and forever remained in the same room.

[Orhan Pamuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk.md) · [My Name Is Red](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk/my-name-is-red.md) · p. 407 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk/my-name-is-red/suddenly-it-seemed.md)

Topics: [memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/memory.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> “I’ve met people like him.” Garth nodded sagely. “Men of customary inaction who can be spurred to sporadic excess. Such men often start ill-planned projects that they lack either energy to complete or the wit to abandon.”

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Singer From The Sea](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/singer-from-the-sea.md) · p. 257 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/singer-from-the-sea/ive-met-people.md)

Topics: [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md), [plans](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/plans.md)

> Thread and needles. To sew, so Mama had said, a cap of wisdom, a thinking cap. If one wanted a thinking cap. Mama hadn’t. Wisdom was the curse of man, she said. In seeking wisdom we had lost our heritage. I didn’t believe that. We hadn’t sought wisdom diligently enough, that’s how we’d lost our heritage. We preferred cleverness to wisdom. Instead of seeking the truth, we had preferred to believe in easy certainties. Always so much easier to take the lazy, easy way and then pretend God had commanded it.

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/beauty.md) · p. 444 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/beauty/thread-and-needles.md)

Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wisdom.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Life was combat, and victory was not to the lazy, the timid, the slugabed, the drugstore cowboy, the libertine, the mushmouth afraid to tell people exactly what was on his mind whether people liked it or not.

[Russell Baker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-baker.md) · [Growing Up](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-baker/growing-up.md) · p. 9 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/russell-baker/growing-up/life-was-combat.md)

Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [courage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/courage.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Be thou never without something to do; be reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or doing something that is useful to the community.

[Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/be-thou-never.md)

Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> You've got to try everything once, except those things you don't like, or that involve a lot of effort and getting up early.

[Tibor Fischer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tibor-fischer.md) · [The Thought Gang](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tibor-fischer/the-thought-gang.md) · p. 205 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tibor-fischer/the-thought-gang/youve-got-to-try.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> "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 — I am idling, I have idled, I will idle.

[F.Scott Fitzgerald](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fscott-fitzgerald.md) · [Tales of the Jazz Age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fscott-fitzgerald/tales-of-the-jazz-age.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fscott-fitzgerald/tales-of-the-jazz-age/jelly-bean-is-the.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> It's not mental repose they seek, but mental laziness.

[Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/its-not-mental.md)

Topics: [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> It was not laziness if he was a rich man. Only the poor were lazy. Just as only the poor were ignorant. A rich man who didn't know anything was spoiled or independent.

[John Steinbeck](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck.md) · [East of Eden](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/east-of-eden.md) · p. 339 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/east-of-eden/it-was-not.md)

Topics: [wealth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wealth.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> There's an obvious attraction
>
> To the path of least resistance in your life
>
> Well there's an obvious aversion no amount of my insistence
>
> Could make you try tonight 'Cause it's easy not to
>
> So much easier not to
>
> And what goes around never comes around to you
>
> To you, to you, to you, to you, to you.

[Alanis Morissette](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alanis-morissette.md) · [Jagged Little Pill](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alanis-morissette/jagged-little-pill.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alanis-morissette/jagged-little-pill/theres-an-obvious.md)

Topics: [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> If any thing can be predicated as universally true of uncultivated man, it is that he will not labour beyond what is absolutely necessary to maintain his existence.

[Derrick Jensen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derrick-jensen.md) · [The Culture of Make Believe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derrick-jensen/the-culture-of-make-believe.md) · p. 59 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derrick-jensen/the-culture-of-make-believe/if-any-thing.md)

Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> The inert mind is a greater danger than the inert body, for it overlays and stifles the desire to live.

[Robertson Davies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies.md) · [The Cunning Man](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-cunning-man.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-cunning-man/the-inert-mind.md)

Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Progress doesn't come from early risers — progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md) · [Time Enough For Love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/time-enough-for-love.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/time-enough-for-love/progress-doesnt-come.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Western man had relearned-what the rest of the world had never forgotten-that there was nothing sinful in leisure as long as it did not degenerate into mere sloth.

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke.md) · [Childhood's End](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/childhoods-end.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-c-clarke/childhoods-end/western-man-had.md)

Topics: [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md), [rest](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/rest.md)

> fame-induced apathy - the attitude that no activity is worth pursuing unless one can become very famous pursuing it. Fame-induced apathy mimics laziness, but its roots are much deeper. (page 150)

[Douglas Coupland](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-coupland.md) · [Generation X](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-coupland/generation-x.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-coupland/generation-x/fame-induced-apathy-the.md)

Topics: [fame](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fame.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Most people are too indifferent or lazy to acquire facts with which to think accurately. They prefer to act on "opinions" created by guesswork or snap-judgments. p.88

[Napoleon Hill](https://www.leafyquotes.com/napoleon-hill.md) · [Think And Grow Rich](https://www.leafyquotes.com/napoleon-hill/think-and-grow-rich.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/napoleon-hill/think-and-grow-rich/most-people-are.md)

Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> “Don’t you think it’s a bit—well, intense? Are people really interested in these matters?”
>
> “If not they should be.”
>
> “Easily said, but it’s no way to run a magazine. People don’t want to really understand anything; they want to think they have learned without the necessity of application.”

[Jack Vance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance.md) · [The Palace of Love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance/the-palace-of-love.md) · p. 327 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance/the-palace-of-love/dont-you-think.md)

Topics: [knowledge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/knowledge.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> “You must save yourselves,” Rogol Domedonfors told them. “You have ignored the ancient wisdom, you have been too indolent to learn, you have sought easy complacence from religion, rather than facing manfully to the world.”

[Jack Vance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance.md) · [The Dying Earth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance/the-dying-earth.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-vance/the-dying-earth/you-must-save.md)

Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> This nonsense about the superior energy of the English (actually the laziest people in Europe) has been current for at least a hundred years.

[George Orwell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell.md) · [The Road to Wigan Pier](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/the-road-to-wigan-pier.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-orwell/the-road-to-wigan-pier/this-nonsense-about.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> "If flying-saucer creatures or angels or whatever were to come here in a hundred years, say, and find us gone like the dinosaurs, what might be a good message for humanity to leave for them, maybe carved in great big letters on a Grand Canyon wall? Here is this old poop's suggestion: WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE SAVED OURSELVES, BUT WERE TOO DAMNED LAZY TO TRY VERY HARD...AND TOO DAMNED CHEAP."

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut.md) · [Fates Worse Than Death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut/fates-worse-than-death.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut/fates-worse-than-death/if-flying-saucer-creatures.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [ecology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ecology.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Young men of this class never do anything for themselves that they can get other people to do for them, and it is the infatuation, the devotion, the superstition of others that keeps them going. These others in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred are women.

[Henry James](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james.md) · [Washington Square](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james/washington-square.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james/washington-square/young-men-of-this.md)

Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md), [masculinity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/masculinity.md)

> Everywhere in the world people were expecting the latter coming of one or another kickshaw messiah who would remove the discomforts which they themselves were either too lazy or too incompetent to deal with; and nobody had anything whatever to gain with electing for peculiarity among one's fellow creatures and a gloomier outlook.
>
> Even Coth saw that.

[James Branch Cabell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-branch-cabell.md) · [The Silver Stallion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-branch-cabell/the-silver-stallion.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-branch-cabell/the-silver-stallion/everywhere-in-the.md)

Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [hope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hope.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Because I was lazy, I'd adopted the philosophy that things just happen.

[David Sedaris](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris.md) · [Naked](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/naked.md) · p. 222 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/naked/because-i-was.md)

Topics: [fate](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fate.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> I do nothing, granted. But I see the hours pass — which is better than trying to fill them.

[Emil Cioran](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran.md) · [The Trouble With Being Born](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/i-do-nothing.md)

Topics: [time](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/time.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Nothing surpasses the pleasures of idleness: even if the end of the world were to come, I would not leave my bed at an ungodly hour.

[Emil Cioran](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran.md) · [A Short History of Decay](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/a-short-history-of-decay.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/a-short-history-of-decay/nothing-surpasses-the.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md)

> Idleness is only fatal to the mediocre.

[Albert Camus](https://www.leafyquotes.com/albert-camus.md) · [A Happy Death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/albert-camus/a-happy-death.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/albert-camus/a-happy-death/idleness-is-only.md)

Topics: [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md), [mediocrity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/mediocrity.md)