The devil finds work for idle hands
Andrew, of ‘From the High Rise’, wondered if Isaac Watts’ poem, featured in my last post, made the first mention of this proverb. Of course, I had to try and find out.
There is a general consensus that most versions of the proverb arise from Christian teaching. Proverbs 16:27 says, ‘An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire’
This may have inspired St Jerome (c.342-347 – 420 B.C.) to write in his Letter 125:
‘Fac et aliquid operis, ut semper te diabolus inveniat occupatum’ which translates as
‘Do something, so that the Devil may always find you busy’
The first rendering to appear in Middle English was about 1405 in Chaucer’s Melibeus (The Tale of Melibee)
‘Dooth somme good dedes, so that the deuel, which is oure enemy, ne fynde yow nat ynocupied’
translated in modern English as
‘Do some good deeds, so that the Devil, which is our enemy, won’t find you unoccupied.’
The same sentiment is repeatedly found in religious texts throughout the Middle Ages but does not appear in its more widely known form until the 19th century. In February 1848, The Indicator, Amherst College’s student-led literary magazine, recorded
‘The boys are not permitted to idle away their time in the streets . . . for the inhabitants firmly believe that ‘the devil finds work for idle hands to do.'
However, some hundred years before that, Isaac Watts (1674-1748) had published his little poem about the busy bee, and included
‘For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.’
Just as an aside, ‘The Devil Makes Work for Idle Hands’ is an album of greatest hits by the New Zealand rock band ‘Head Like a Hole’. It’s amazing what you find out when you start looking . . .
I sometimes wonder where such sayings originate, but I'm too lazy to go searching. Besides, I have too many other things that are waiting to be read. Books, blogs, newspapers.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I'm like a dog with a bone . . .
DeleteThat turned out to be rather interesting. Thanks for your research.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrew.
DeleteI appreciate the research details you've provided.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, thank you.
DeleteThat was an interesting development of a proverb - from an exhortation to do GOOD works lest the devil find you to the idea that idleness breeds evil conduct (or is idleness in itself somehow evil?) Xxx Mr T (who has idling down to a fine art)
ReplyDeleteI prefer to think of idleness as silent contemplation x
DeleteWhat did we do before the internet. The rabbit holes we're taken down, haha. Before we know it, the morning's gone.
ReplyDelete'Rabbit holes' is so right - I've always gone down them but it's so much easier and quicker with the internet ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat was a fascinating read, Janice! xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann x
ReplyDelete