An idle brain is the devil's workshop.
Meaning: Unoccupied minds naturally drift toward mischief and destructive thoughts rather than productive or virtuous pursuits.
Origin: An old warning that idleness invites mischief. Isaac Watts put it in a hymn for children in 1715 — "Satan finds some mischief still / For idle hands to do" — Thomas Fuller's Gnomologia (1732) has "Idle brains are the devil's workhouses," and the wording used here was collected in the 19th century.
More proverbs about Perseverance
- God never measures men by inches. — Height matters less than character; true worth is invisible to the eye.
- Industry is fortune's right hand and frugality her left. — Hard work and careful spending together create wealth; neither alone suffices.
- Better lose a jest than a friend. — Sacrificing a humorous quip protects valued relationships that require more care than mom…
- Tis a great journey to the world's end. — Long journeys require patience and persistence; ambitious goals demand sustained effort o…
- Keep a thing seven years, and you will find a use for it. — Patience with possessions reveals hidden utility; what seems worthless today becomes inva…
- He that labours and thrives, spins gold. — Hard work that produces results generates wealth and prosperity far beyond initial effort.
From our compliments & insults
- Eres más bueno que el pan — You are a genuinely good, kind soul.
- Sei in gamba — You're sharp, capable, and on the ball.
- Sei un tesoro — You're a darling — precious to have around.