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Mischief Quotes

From idle children to sharp political criticism.

These mischief quotes range from a lighthearted observation that idle children tend to find trouble to a much sharper claim that punishment itself is a form of mischief. Together they show how differently the word can be used, playfully or critically.

The state can be and has often been in the course of history the main source of mischief and disaster.

Quotes by Ludwig von Mises

All punishment is mischief; all punishment in itself is evil.

Quotes by Jeremy Bentham

When children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief.

Quotes by Henry Fielding

Let them call it mischief: When it is past and prospered t'will be virtue.

Quotes by Ben Jonson

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these mischief quotes mostly lighthearted?
Not entirely; while one is a playful line about idle children getting into trouble, others use 'mischief' to make sharper, more critical points.
What does the quote about punishment mean?
It argues that punishment is itself a form of mischief, since it's inherently harmful even when meant to correct behavior.
Is there a quote critical of government or the state?
Yes, one names the state as a recurring source of mischief and disaster throughout history, framing it as a repeated pattern.
What's the quote about children specifically saying?
It observes that children who aren't kept busy tend to end up doing mischief instead, a fairly simple cause-and-effect idea.
What does the quote about mischief becoming virtue suggest?
It suggests that once an action succeeds and time passes, people may stop calling it mischief and start calling it something closer to virtue.

A couple of quotes get more pointed still, blaming the state as a recurring source of historical disaster and mischief, and suggesting that success can quietly reframe mischief as virtue after the fact.