What is the origin of "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"?

What is the origin of "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"? - Life Balance Quote on Wooden Scrabble Tiles

In the movie The Shining, there is a whole stack of papers reading "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" on the desk next to the typewriter.

Where does this phrase come from? Does it come from folklore, or a bedtime story?



Best Answer

From Wikipedia:

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is a proverb. It means that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring. The exact origins of the phrase remain unclear, though it was recorded as early as 1659.




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Where did the phrase all work and no play come from?

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is a proverb that means that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring. The exact origins of the phrase remain unclear, though it was recorded as early as 1659.

Who wrote All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy?

This is the first book (and the only one...) written by Jack Torrance, who accepted the job of the winter caretaker at the "Overlook Hotel" which always gets snowed in during the cold season.

Do you agree or disagree with the saying All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy?

Yes, I totally agree with the statement because in today's world deteriorating the mounting stress in everyone's mind is a must and should. So, playing makes one physically strong and fit and mentally morale and competitive. It helps to reduce stress and cope with our problems.

What was Jack typing in The Shining?

The scene when Jack writes obsessively on the typewriter "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" was re-shot a number of times, but changing the language of the typed copy to Italian, French, Spanish, and German, in order to match the respective dubbed languages.



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