“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” is a way of saying that each day will have its own problems , and it will be unwise to worry about them beforehand.
It is a statement of realistic stoicism: do not worry about tomorrow: it takes away your power to deal with troubles of today. It is a warning against excessive worry and forethought. Instead of exhausting yourself trying to anticipate or prepare for everything, focus on managing what is currently in front of you.
The “evil” in this case does not mean moral badness but means adversity, trouble, or misfortune. The idiom encourages one to be determined to concentrate on the present moment. It reminds one about how to manage one’s emotional and mental energy. It promotes trust in one’s own ability to handle problems as they arise rather than being distracted by expectation or fear.
The Origin and History of the Idiom “Sufficient Unto the Day is the Evil Thereof”
The saying comes from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, verse 34 (King James Version):
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”
Enough for the day is the evil of it. “Take no thought” in 17th-century English is “do not worry,” not “don’t think.” The passage is part of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, a collection of teachings about humility, trust in God’s provision, and spiritual priorities.
Historically, the idiom was employed as both moral teaching and a survival tactic during periods of uncertainty. It passed into English idiomatic use over the centuries with or without its biblical source. Both religious and secular philosophers adopted it — especially in times of war, economic crisis, and social change. The words sound antique now, but the meaning still resonates, turning up in self-help books, political rhetoric, and even in mindfulness texts.
The Shakespeare Connection
While Shakespeare does not quote “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” verbatim, the sentiment is in accord with sentiments of his own writings. I
In Macbeth, for example, the title character agonizes over what will become of the future—ambition prompts him to foresee crimes and commit them in an attempt to acquire a future that he cannot control. It is the polar opposite of the wisdom of Matthew’s lesson.
In Julius Caesar, Cassius tells Brutus, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings,” once again citing the sense of agency in the current moment rather than any concern about destiny.
The philosophy behind the idiom is in line with the fatalistic but action-oriented world view shared throughout Shakespearean tragedies. Shakespeare regularly illustrates the cost of overreaching— those who dwell on the future are apt to fall short, while those who address the present with moderation typically find themselves on more solid ground. Even though he doesn’t use the same terminology, the psychological principle that it outlines is one he clearly knew and dramatized.
Use of the Idiom in the Media
The idiom has appeared in a range of media—books and films, philosophy and popular culture. It is often quoted or referred to in literature whenever a character is overwhelmed by anxiety.
Somerset Maugham titled one of his collections of short stories “The Trembling of a Leaf: Little Stories of the South Sea Islands”, and in one of the stories, he employs the idiom in paraphrased form as a defense mechanism of one of the characters.
The idiom appears in modern film and television, especially in speech where strict or pious characters exhibit a focus on immediate woes instead of anxieties about the future. In religious or spiritual terms—e.g., in mindfulness books or sermons—the idiom is frequently cited to illustrate the value of “being present.”
It has been paraphrased in songs, essays, and even political speeches to appeal for calm under duress. Though normally serious, the phrase also appears ironic or world-weary depending on context. Its persistence across various media over the years is a testament to its long-term psychological and spiritual significance.
