But there is one time at night when he must go home， that his friends may sleep； and another time in the morning， when all the world agrees to shut out interruption. These are the moments of which poor Sober trembles at the thought. But the misery of these tiresome intervals， he has many means of alleviating. He has persuaded himself that the manual arts are undeservedly overlooked； he has observed in many trades the effects of close thought， and just ratiocination. From speculation he proceeded to practice， and supplied himself with the tools of a carpenter， with which he mended his coalbox very successfully， and which he still continues to employ， as he finds occasion.
He has attempted at other times the crafts of the shoemaker， tinman， plumber， and potter； in all these arts he has failed， and resolves to qualify himself for them by better information. But his daily amusement is chemistry. He has a small furnace， which he employs in distillation， and which has long been the solace of his life. He draws oils and waters， and essences and spirits， which he knows to be of no use； sits and counts the drops as they come from his retort， and forgets that， whilst a drop is falling， a moment flies away.
Poor Sober！ I have often teased him with reproof， and he has often promised reformation； for no man is so much open to conviction as the Idler， but there is none on whom it operates so little. What will be the effect of this paper I know not； perhaps he will read it and laugh， and light the fire in his furnace； but my hope is that he will quit his trifles， and betake himself to rational and useful diligence.
很多德育家指出，骄傲是人类所有恶习中影响力最为广泛的。它的表现形式繁杂多样，隐藏方式也多种多样。就如同天边月儿晶莹透明的面纱，伪装既有光彩之处又有隐晦之所。虽然遮盖，亦可一眼望穿。
诚然，我无意降低骄傲的危害程度，但不知道闲散是否会成为它的劲敌。