It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active.
Interpretation
Laziness often leads to losing one's rights to those who are proactive.
This quote highlights the consequences of inaction and laziness, suggesting that those who do not actively defend or pursue their rights may find themselves at the mercy of more active individuals. It serves as a reminder that passivity can result in the erosion of one's entitlements and freedoms, emphasizing the importance of being vigilant and engaged in the pursuit of one's interests.
In practice
During a public debate on civic engagement, one could use this quote to stress the importance of participation.
It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become prey to the active. The conditions upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime, and the punishment of his guilt.
Evil prospers when good men do nothing.
When I start on a book, I have been thinking about it and making occasional notes for some time... So I have lots of theme, locale, subjects and technical ideas... I don't worry about long periods of not doing anything. I know my subconscious is busy.
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop
Where there is no novelty, there can be no curiosity.
Whatever happens, do not lose hold of the two main ropes of life - hope and faith.
There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.
Let's plunge ourselves into the roar of time, the whirl of accident; may pain and pleasure, success and failure, shift as they will -- it's only action that can make a man.
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