"There are two types of laziness: horizontal and vertical. There is the man who is lazy only in the long view of his life; in his plans; in postponing his resolutions, his decisions; in building up his life's work lazily, building everything into time, into the great distance. And then there is the other, vertical laziness when we remain lazy before the moment when we do not think, say or do what could be done at that moment. We don't reach out for something we could get, without much effort, and later perhaps only at great sacrifice, we don't pick up the phone, write that letter, or jot down that thought, right then, in that moment. It's the latter kind of laziness that is most dangerous. Life depends on such missed, lazily neglected moments.
"
Author
Márai SándorAll Translations
All Translations
"
There are two types of laziness: horizontal and vertical. There is the man who is lazy only in the long view of his life; in his plans; in postponing his resolutions, his decisions; in building up his life's work lazily, building everything into time, into the great distance. And then there is the other, vertical laziness when we remain lazy before the moment when we do not think, say or do what could be done at that moment. We don't reach out for something we could get, without much effort, and later perhaps only at great sacrifice, we don't pick up the phone, write that letter, or jot down that thought, right then, in that moment. It's the latter kind of laziness that is most dangerous. Life depends on such missed, lazily neglected moments.
""
Kétféle lustaság van: vízszintes és függőleges. Van ember, aki csak élete nagy távlataiban lusta; a tervekben; abban, hogy elodázza elhatározásait, döntéseit; lustán építi fel élete munkáját, mindent az időbe épít, a nagy messzeségbe. Aztán van a másik, a függőleges lustaság, mikor a pillanat előtt maradunk lusták, mikor nem gondoljuk, mondjuk vagy cselekedjük azt, amit abban a pillanatban lehetne. Nem nyújtjuk ki a kezünket valami után, amit megszerezhetnénk, különösebb fáradság nélkül, s később talán csak nagy áldozatokkal tudunk megszerezni, nem megyünk a telefonhoz, nem írjuk meg azt a levelet, vagy nem jegyezzük fel azt a gondolatot, rögtön, akkor, abban a pillanatban. Ez az utóbbi fajta lustaság a veszedelmesebb. Ilyen elmulasztott, lustán elhanyagolt pillanatokon múlik az élet.
"Audio Recordings
"
Există două tipuri de lene: orizontală și verticală. Există omul care este leneș doar în perspectiva pe termen lung a vieții sale; în planurile sale; în amânarea rezoluțiilor sale, a deciziilor sale; în construirea leneșă a lucrării vieții sale, construind totul în timp, în marea distanță. Și mai există și cealaltă, lenea verticală, atunci când rămânem leneși înaintea momentului, când nu gândim, nu spunem și nu facem ceea ce ar putea fi făcut în acel moment. Nu întindem mâna după ceva ce am putea obține, fără prea mult efort, iar mai târziu poate doar cu mari sacrificii, nu ridicăm receptorul, nu scriem acea scrisoare sau nu notăm acel gând, chiar atunci, în acel moment. Acest din urmă tip de lene este cel mai periculos. Viața depinde de astfel de momente ratate, neglijate leneș.
"