Is any one surprised at Mr. Jonas making such a reference to such a book for such a
purpose? Does any one doubt the old saw that the Devil (being a layman) quotes Scripture
for his own ends. 1937 ‘C. DICKSON’ Ten Teacups xiii. The versatile personage in our
popular proverbs, who.. quotes Scripture for his own ends. 1997 Washington Times 25
July A4 The devil can quote Scripture, as we all know, so why not a politician? good
and evil; hypocrisyThe DEVIL finds work for idle hands to doIdleness and mischief are linked in ST. JEROME Letters CXXV. xi. fac et aliquid operis,
ut semper te diabolus inveniat occupatum, do something, so that the devil may always find you
busy; cf. c 1386 CHAUCER Tale of Melibee 1. 1594 Therfore seith Seint Jerome: ‘Dooth
somme goode dedes that the devel, which is oure enemy, ne fynde yow nat unocupied.’
1715 I. WATTS Divine Songs 29 In Works of Labour or of Skill I would be busy too:
For Satan finds some mischief still for idle Hands to do. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish
Proverbs 221 If the Devil find a Man idle, he’ll set him on Work. 1792 M.
WOLLSTONECRAFT Vindication of Rights of Woman ix. There is a homely proverb,
which speaks a shrewd truth, that whoever the devil finds idle he will employ. .. What but
habitual idleness can hereditary wealth and titles produce? 1941 A. UPDEGRAFF Hills
look Down iv. Better keep busy, and the devil won’t find so much for your idle hands to
do. 1997 Spectator 1 Nov. 25 There is potential for such a large new intake to become
bored. We all know who makes work for idle hands. 2002 Washington Times 14 Mar. D6
(Crock comic strip) ‘I’ve slaved in your salt mines for twenty years without a day off.’
‘You can have thirty minutes off.’ ‘Why didn’t you give the poor soul more time off?’
‘Idle hands work for the devil, Poulet.’ idlenessWhy should the DEVIL have all the best tunes?Many hymns are sung to popular secular melodies, a practice that was especially favoured
by the Methodists. This saying is commonly attributed to the English evangelist Rowland Hill
(1744–1833).
1859 W. CHAPPELL Popular Music II. 748 The Primitive Methodists.. acting upon
the principle of ‘Why should the devil have all the pretty tunes?’ collect the airs which
are sung at pot and public houses, and write their hymns to them. 1879 J. E. HOPKINS
Work amongst Working Men vi. If Wesley could not see why the devil should have all the
good tunes, still less should we be able to see why he should have all the good
amusements. 1933 G. B. SHAW Letter 29 June in In Great Tradition III. 261 Why should
the devil have all the fun as well as all the good tunes? 1996 National Review 23 Dec. 6