Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Life feels most beautiful during moments of idle rest, not work.
In plain terms
We realize life is beautiful when we rest, not when we work.
What can you take from it?
Beauty in life is often found in idleness and rest.

Where it applies

  • burnout recovery
  • philosophical reflection
  • daily routine

Putting it to work

  • schedule idleness
  • value rest
  • pause regularly

Questions to consider

  • When do you feel most alive?
  • Is rest productive?

Another view

Idleness can be seen as laziness or unproductive.

More from Lin Yutang

  1. '...in the West, the insane are so many that they are put in an asylum, in China the insane are so unusual that we worship them . . . .' (p. 3)

    Permalink to quote #2
  2. 'It is not so much what you believe in that matters, as the way in which you believe it and proceed to translate that belief into action.' (p. 8)

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. 'A reasonable naturalist then settles down to this life with a sort of animal satisfaction. As Chinese illiterate women put it, 'Others gave birth to us and we…

    Permalink to quote #4

Related quotes

  1. Music was his life, it was not his livelihood, And it made him feel so happy and it made him feel so good. And he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul…

    Harry ChapinHarry Chapin quote #5
  2. The legend of Felix is ended, the toiling of Felix is done; The Master has paid him his wages, the goal of his journey is won; He rests, but he never is idle; …

    Henry van DykeHenry van Dyke quote #5
  3. Sir, if you are as happy in entering the White House as I shall feel on returning to Wheatland, you are a happy man indeed.

    James BuchananJames Buchanan quote #7