“When children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief.”
Book XV, Ch. 2
The History of Tom Jones (1749)
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Henry Fielding70
English novelist and dramatist 1707–1754Related quotes
“It is intolerable that it should be in the power of one blockhead to do so much mischief.”
Charles James Fox (1749–1806) British Whig statesman
Fox on George III in a letter to Mr. Fitzpatrick (9 September 1781), quoted in John Brooke, George III (Panther, 1974), pp. 363-364.
1780s
“Smile with an intent to do mischief, or cozen him whom he salutes.”
Robert Burton book The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621), Democritus Junior to the Reader
“When there's nothing to do, you do nothing slowly and intently.”
Haruki Murakami book Dance Dance Dance
Source: Dance Dance Dance
“The worst thing you can do is nothing. (re: teaching children with autism)”
Temple Grandin (1947) USA-american doctor of animal science, author, and autism activist
“The pro-life Republicans drop the children at birth and do nothing for them after that.”
Bob Casey Sr. (1932–2000) American politician (1932-2000)
Source: http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/users/rauch/no-violence/civil/hentoff_casey.html
James Richardson (1950) American poet
#155
Vectors: Aphorisms and Ten Second Essays (2001)
“When you have something to do, do it. When you have nothing to do, sleep.”
Charles Sheffield book Resurgence
Source: The Heritage Universe, Resurgence (2002), Chapter 4, “Sleepless in Miranda Port” (p. 33)
Harper Lee book To Kill a Mockingbird
Variant: I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it--seems that only children weep.
Source: To Kill a Mockingbird