that which is spent in idle employments, or amusements that amount to nothing.
“Sloth, by bringing on disease, absolutely shortens life.”
“Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the key used is always bright,” as poor Richard says.
But dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for “that’s the stuff life is made of,” as poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep! forgetting that “the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave,” as poor Richard says. “If time be of all things tho most precious, wasting time must be (as poor Richard says) the greatest prodigality;” since, as he elsewhere tells, “Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough, always proves little enough.”
Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity; “Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy,” as poor Richard says; and, “he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him,” as wo read in poor Richard ; who adds, “Drive thy business; let not that drive thee,” and,
“Early to bed, and early to rise,
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We make these times better if we bestir ourselves. “Industry needs not wish,” as poor Richard says; and,
