Get busy, get quiet. Marcus Aurelius 1.12

Don't say that you are busy, when you are really just wasting time. You can hear me read this passage <here>.

Παρὰ Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ Πλατωνικοῦ τὸ μὴ πολλάκις μηδὲ χωρὶς ἀνάγκης λέγειν πρός τινα ἢ ἐν ἐπιστολῇ γράφειν ὅτι ἄσχολός εἰμι, μηδὲ διὰ τούτου τοῦ τρόπου συνεχῶς παραιτεῖσθαι τὰ κατὰ τὰς πρὸς τοὺς συμβιοῦντας σχέσεις καθήκοντα, προβαλλόμενον τὰ περιεστῶτα πράγματα.

From Alexander the Platonic (†) I learned not to say constantly that I am busy, nor to claim it in writing, without some pressing need. Not to make a habit of begging off my duties in any situation thus, by casting up the prospect of deeds undone.

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(†) Alexander of Seleucia, the son of a distinguished advocate from Cilicia whose death left him heir to a large fortune that he spent chasing a high life all over the Mediterranean. Like his mother Seleucis, who made love to Apollonius of Tyana, he was renowned for good looks, and took such care of them that Antoninus Pius marked him a fop when his travels brought him to court in the character of public ambassador (Philostratus, Vitae sophistarum 2.5; p. 571 Olearius). Folk called Alexander 'Muddy Plato' (Πηλοπλάτων), recognizing in his speech something like the rhythm and music of the philosopher. After our Marcus made him the imperial Greek secretary, he had a famous public encounter with fellow sophist Herodes Atticus in Athens. When he had heard Alexander speak, Atticus was very impressed and made him a generous gift. Another member of the audience, however, one Sceptus of Corinth, was heard to remark that he found the mud, but was still looking for the Plato (Philostratus, p. 573 Olearius).