In Praise of Idleness – By Bertrand Russell (1932)
Like most of
my generation, I was brought up on the saying: 'Satan finds some mischief for
idle hands to do.' Being a highly virtuous child, I believed all that I was
told, and acquired a conscience which has kept me working hard down to the
present moment. But although my conscience has controlled my actions, my
opinions have undergone a revolution. I think that there is far too much work
done in the world, that immense harm is caused by the belief that work is
virtuous, and that what needs to be preached in modern industrial countries is
quite different from what always has been preached. Everyone knows the story of
the traveler in Naples who saw twelve beggars lying in the sun (it was before
the days of Mussolini), and offered a lira to the laziest of them. Eleven of them
jumped up to claim it, so he gave it to the twelfth. this traveler was on the
right lines. But in countries which do not enjoy Mediterranean sunshine
idleness is more difficult, and a great public propaganda will be required to
inaugurate it. I hope that, after reading the following pages, the leaders of
the YMCA will start a campaign to induce good young men to do nothing. If so, I
shall not have lived in vain.
