Days of respite are golden days.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Nothing gives rest but the sincere search for truth.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Leisure is the mother of philosophy.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
We seldom enjoy leisure we haven’t earned.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
A hobby is hard work you wouldn’t do for a living.
—Unknown
And this activity alone would seem to be loved for its own sake; for nothing arises from it apart from the contemplating, while from practical activities we gain more or less apart from the action. And happiness is thought to depend on leisure; for we are busy that we may have leisure, and make war that we may live in peace
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
In our play we reveal what kind of people we are.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
It is necessary to relax your muscles when you can. Relaxing your brain is fatal.
—Stirling Moss (1929–2020) English Motor-Racing Driver, Broadcaster
Money and time are the heaviest burdens of life, and the unhappiest of all mortals are those who have more of either than they know how to use.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
Leisure is pain; take off our chariot wheels and how heavily we drag the load of life.—It is our curse, like that of Cain; it makes us wander earth around to fly that tyrant, thought.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Put off thy cares with thy clothes; so shall thy rest strengthen thy labor; and and so shall thy labor sweeten thy rest.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
It is already possible to imagine a society in which the majority of the population, that is to say, its laborers, will have almost as much leisure as in earlier times was enjoyed by the aristocracy. When one recalls how aristocracies in the past actually behaved, the prospect is not cheerful.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
He has hard work who has nothing to do.
—Common Proverb
In this theater of man’s life, it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers-on.
—Pythagoras (570–495 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Leisure only means a chance to do other jobs that demand attention.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
What the banker sighs for, the meanest clown may have-leisure and a quiet mind.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The man who works 52 weeks in the year does not do his best in any one week of the year, Daniel Guggenheim, onetime head of the greatest smelting and mining family in America, impressed upon me. Real recreation quickens aspiration. The true purpose of recreation is not merely to amuse, not merely to afford pleasure, not merely to kill time, but to increase our fitness, enhance our usefulness, spur achievement.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
They talk of the dignity of work. The dignity is in leisure.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
You can go to doctors until the last cow has been placed in its shed. You can journey the earth in search of peace of mind. You can experiment with a dozen theories, hoping for a relief from worries, or the problems which beset you, but unless you learn to relax you will end up disappointed. Tension is a killer! Just relax and note the immediate effect. One of peace and ease of mind. One in which every organ of the body joins. In relaxation there is unity of mind, body and spirit.
—George Matthew Adams (1878–1962) American Columnist, Journalist
The basis on which good repute in any highly organized industrial community ultimately rests is pecuniary strength; and the means of showing pecuniary strength, and so of gaining or retaining a good name, are leisure and a conspicuous consumption of goods
—Thorstein Veblen (1857–1929) American Economist, Social Critic
How many inner resources one needs to tolerate a life of leisure without fatigue.
—Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972) American Playwright, Poet, Novelist
He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul’s estate.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
For too much rest becomes a pain.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
Spare minutes are the Gold-dust of time; the portions of life most fruitful in good and evil; the gaps through which temptations enter.
—Unknown
One non-revolutionary weekend is infinitely more bloody than a month of permanent revolution.
—Unknown
All intellectual improvement arises from leisure.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
A man can never be idle with safety and advantage until he has been so trained by work that he makes his freedom from times and tasks more fruitful than his toil has been.
—Hamilton Wright Mabie (1846–1916) American Essayist, Editor
You cannot give an instance of any man who is permitted to lay out his own time, contriving not to have tedious hours.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist