The devil will find work for idle hands to do.

[Teddy_boy]

Do you believe this? I was discussing this today with a neighbour of mine.

[douglas9401]

Yes. (not "the devil" though

[Teddy_boy]

Im not religious so am using the devil figureatively. But i do believe that idle hands get up to no good.

[NazNomad]

Idle hands do nothing ... surely?

[Buenchico]

I can't subscribe to a literal understanding of the phrase, because I don't believe in the Devil.

However statistics show that all crime rates tend to rise when people have no work (or other useful activity) to undertake. In particular, the vast majority of sexual offences are committed by people who're suffering from depression or feelings of isolation, often through unemployment or a lack of social contact.

Chris

[Teddy_boy]

Before hands do anything they are in a state of idleness are they not ? Buenchico im not a particularly religious person but was using the phrase as it is commonly said .
I could have equally said do you believe that idle hands find no good to do?Although thats probably nto a very well formed sentence.

[douglas9401]

What Chris said.

[gaspanic]

wanna see what my hands do? got a kleenex? (jk)

[JonnyBoy12]

Yes, that is correct they do say that "Satan makes mischeif for idle hands". I think this dates back to Victorian days, but that would never happen to us as we have the best site in the world to keep us busy.

[gaspanic]

this site and vast amounds of kleenex (ok i need to stop)

[gaspanic]

*amounts

[boxtops]

LOL jonny, agree with that - I should be doing so many useful things if my idle fingers were typing here!