1.for history teaches that whole nations have, in spite of the exertions and of the thrift of their citizens, fallen into poverty and misery. Whoever desires to know and investigate how one nation from a state of poverty and barbarism has attained to one of wealth and prosperity, and how another has fallen from a condition of wealth and well-being into one of poverty and misery, has always, after receiving the information that labour is the cause of wealth and idleness the cause of poverty (a remark which King Solomon made long before Adam Smith), to put the further question,what are the causes of labour, and what the causes of idleness?
因为历史告诉我们，曾有许多国家，它们的国民尽管克勤克俭，还是不能免于贫困，有些国家由贫穷落后的地位进入富强，有些则由富裕与幸福的状况沦入贫困，凡是对这样的演变想试究一下原因的，当他听到了劳动造成富强、怠惰造成贫困的道理以后(其实所罗门王在亚当·斯密之前早就提出了这一点)，总是不禁要再问一下，劳动的起因是什么，怠惰的起因又是什么呢？
2.The heaviest burden of life is not working but idleness. Busy work makes brisk steps; idleness makes a heavy heart.
生活最沉重的负担，不是工作，而是无聊。工作繁重，脚步却轻松；无所事事，心有千斤重。
3.Idleness is a silent and peaceful quality, that neither raises envy by ostentation, nor hatred by opposition; and therefore nobody is busy to censure or detest it.
懒散不显山不露水，既不会由于炫耀而招致嫉妒，也不会因为对抗而遭人憎恨。正因为如此，没有人指责它，憎恶它。
4.a knight who spends his time in luxury and idleness (knighted on the carpet at court rather than on the field of battle).
把时间花在奢侈和闲散中的骑士（在宫廷中的地毯上而不是在战场上被授予爵位）。
5.Love is the business of the idle, but the idleness of the busy.
爱是闲人忙碌的事，忙人偷闲的事。
6.A period of leisure; idleness.
闲聊之时；闲空
7.Idleness rust the mind.
懒惰脑筋要生锈。
8.As worms are bred in a stagnant, so are evil thoughts in idleness.
虫蛆在死水里滋生，罪恶在懒惰中长成。
9.The Roman Catholic Church calls the following deadly sins: murder, lust, covetousness, gluttony, pride, envy and idleness.
罗马天主教会将下列行为称为无赦之罪：谋杀、纵欲、贪婪、贪食、骄傲、嫉妒与懒惰。
10.As worms are bred in a stagnant pool, so are evil thoughts in idleness.
虫蛆在死水中孵化，邪念在懒惰中养成。
