Doing Nothing Is a Great Remedy for Boredom - Abraham Lincoln

Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull. — W. Somerset Maugham

W. Somerset Maugham

Maugham’s remark begins with a sharp paradox: what appears most admirable may also be least engaging. Perfection promises polish, balance, and control, yet those same qualities can smooth away surprise, tension, and indi...

He does not seem to me to be a free man who does not sometimes do nothing. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero

At first glance, Cicero’s remark sounds provocative because it praises what many societies treat as waste: doing nothing. Yet his point is not laziness but autonomy.

If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live. — Lin Yutang

Lin Yutang

Lin Yutang’s line quietly overturns the modern habit of equating life with productivity. By praising a “perfectly useless afternoon,” he suggests that living well is not measured only by outputs, achievements, or visible...

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. — Marthe Troly-Curtin

Curtin

This quote highlights the importance of personal happiness and leisure. If an activity brings you joy, even if others might see it as unproductive, it still holds value for your well-being.

One must choose in life between boredom and suffering. — Madame de Staël

Madame de Staël

This quote encapsulates a profound observation about the human condition, suggesting that life inherently involves choosing between the monotony of boredom and the challenges of suffering.

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. — Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker

This quote suggests that curiosity is a powerful remedy for boredom. When one is curious, they are engaged and eager to explore or learn, which naturally eliminates the feeling of being bored.