“To be idle and to be poor have always been reproaches, and therefore every man endeavors with his utmost care to hide his poverty from others and his idleness from himself”
— Samuel Johnson
Simplified Meaning:
People dislike being seen as lazy or poor, so they try to hide these things. Imagine someone who doesn't have much money – they might still put on nice clothes and a smile to appear better off. They do this because they don't want others to think badly of them. Similarly, when people are not working or being productive, they might lie to themselves and make excuses to avoid feeling guilty. For example, a person might binge-watch TV shows but tell themselves they're just taking a break. People do these things because society often looks down on laziness and poverty, so they want to avoid judgment from others and themselves. By understanding this, anyone can try to be more honest with themselves about their situation. Accepting the truth can lead to real changes and improvements. Instead of pretending to be busy, one could actually start doing small productive activities, and instead of hiding financial struggles, one could seek help or make a plan to improve.
