"An idle brain is the Devil's shop."
— Ray [formerly Wray], John (1627-1705)
Place of Publication
Cambridge
Publisher
Printed by John Hayes for W. Morden
Date
1670, rev. 1678
Metaphor
"An idle brain is the Devil's shop."
Metaphor in Context
Prœstat otiosum esse quam nihil agere. Plin. Epist. Better be idle than do that which is to no purpose, or as good as nothing; much more than that which is evil.
An idle brain is the Devil's shop.
Idle folks have the most labour.
Idle folks lack no excuses.
No jesting with edge tools, or with bell-ropes.
(p. 124)
An idle brain is the Devil's shop.
Idle folks have the most labour.
Idle folks lack no excuses.
No jesting with edge tools, or with bell-ropes.
(p. 124)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in Google Books
Citation
Ray, John. A Collection of English Proverbs Digested into a Convenient Method for the Speedy Finding Any One upon Occasion: with Short Annotations (Cambridge: Printed by John Hayes for W. Morden, 1678). <Link to EEBO><Link to Google Books edition of 1768>
Date of Entry
06/28/2011
