The DEVIL finds work for idle hands to do
Idleness and mischief are linked in ST. JEROME Letters CXXV. xi. fac et aliquid operis, ut semper te diabolus inveniat occupatum, do something, so that the devil may always find you busy; cf. c 1386 CHAUCER Tale of Melibee 1. 1594 Therfore seith Seint Jerome: ‘Dooth somme goode dedes that the devel, which is oure enemy, ne fynde yow nat unocupied.’
1715 I. WATTS Divine Songs 29 In Works of Labour or of Skill I would be busy too: For Satan finds some mischief still for idle Hands to do. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 221 If the Devil find a Man idle, he’ll set him on Work. 1792 M. WOLLSTONECRAFT Vindication of Rights of Woman ix. There is a homely proverb, which speaks a shrewd truth, that whoever the devil finds idle he will employ. .. What but habitual idleness can hereditary wealth and titles produce? 1941 A. UPDEGRAFF Hills look Down iv. Better keep busy, and the devil won’t find so much for your idle hands to do. 1997 Spectator 1 Nov. 25 There is potential for such a large new intake to become bored. We all know who makes work for idle hands. 2002 Washington Times 14 Mar. D6 (Crock comic strip) ‘I’ve slaved in your salt mines for twenty years without a day off.’ ‘You can have thirty minutes off.’ ‘Why didn’t you give the poor soul more time off?’ ‘Idle hands work for the devil, Poulet.’ "idleness
Why should the DEVIL have all the best tunes?
Many hymns are sung to popular secular melodies, a practice that was especially favoured by the Methodists. This saying is commonly attributed to the English evangelist Rowland Hill (1744-1833).
1859 W. CHAPPELL Popular Music II. 748 The Primitive Methodists.. acting upon the principle of ‘Why should the devil have all the pretty tunes?’ collect the airs which are sung at pot and public houses, and write their hymns to them. 1879 J. E. HOPKINS Work amongst Working Men vi. If Wesley could not see why the devil should have all the good tunes, still less should we be able to see why he should have all the good amusements. 1933 G. B. SHAW Letter 29 June in In Great Tradition III. 261 Why should the devil have all the fun as well as all the good tunes? 1996 National Review 23 Dec. 6
Not even the rule that the Devil should not have all the best tunes could save ‘Happy Days Are Here Again.’ 2002 Times 23 July 17 The Devil may have all the good tunes, but he was also, it appears, on the receiving end of one of humankind’s greatest puzzles. ■ good and evil
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