— Against the mantra of always having to be doing something — A compact cultural history of laziness — Anecdotes and aphorisms In a world that is characterised by the idea of achievement, laziness is considered a mortal sin. This has a long tradition. "If anyone will not work, let him not eat," wrote Paul the Apostle. So laziness, we are led to believe, is considered punishable by death in the Bible. But there is more to laziness than the mortal sin of inertia. It also includes idleness and contemplation, which no one finds reprehensible. Laziness can even be sexy. Its most charming variant is nonchalance: nothing upsets me; I take things as they come. A very readable essay about the need for idleness in our stressful times.