小しょう人じん閑かん居きょ

expression

a small-minded person being idle tends to do evil

Proverb and yojijukugo, often cited as part of the longer phrase 小人閑居して不善をなす. Used to warn that idle hands are the devil's workshop, especially for those of weak character.

See also: 小人閑居して不善をなす

• 「小しょう人じん閑かん居きょして不ふ善ぜんをなす」という言こと葉ばがある。

  There is a saying: 'A small-minded person, being idle, will do evil.'

• 彼かれは小しょう人じん閑かん居きょの典てん型けいで、暇ひまになるとすぐ悪わるさを考かんがえる。

  He is a typical example of 'a small-minded person being idle'; as soon as he has free time, he thinks of mischief.