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The Why Factor: Laziness

Laziness

19/03/2018 GMT

BBC World Service - The Why Factor, Laziness

Being called lazy is an insult so why do we look down on laziness? Has sloth always been considered a sin? Don’t good things sometimes come out of trying to take it easy?

Laziness, slothfulness, idleness and apathy are used as criticisms and insults against individuals, groups and sometimes whole countries. But why?  The Greeks saw laziness as a virtue and something to be sought after whereas today we look down on being unproductive. Should we keep ourselves constantly busy or is laziness something we should feel less guilty about?  Isn’t a little bit of downtime good for the soul? After all, do good things not come out of taking it easy?

(Photo: Legs extended on a hammock. Credit: Shutterstock)

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