All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Meaning: Relentless labor without leisure deadens the mind and spirit, diminishing one's vitality and capacity for joy.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Perseverance

• When poverty comes in at the door, friendship leaps out of the window. — Financial hardship exposes fair-weather friends who abandon you when material benefit dis…
• Never sound the trumpet of your own praise. — Self-promotion undermines credibility; let others recognize your worth through actions, n…
• Procrastination is the thief of time. — Delaying tasks gradually steals away your hours until nothing remains to complete them.
• Prosperity gains friends, adversity tries them. — Wealth attracts companions easily, but only hardship reveals who genuinely cares about yo…
• He who gets four pounds and spends five has no need of a purse. — Spending beyond one's means makes financial planning irrelevant; the purse empties regard…
• Quick at meat, quick at work. — Eating swiftly signals efficiency and vigor; hasty people tend to accomplish tasks with e…

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…