six hours' sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool

Definition & Meaning of "six hours'sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool"in English

six hours' sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool
01

used to suggest that men require less sleep than women, and anyone who sleeps for more than eight hours is foolish

ProverbProverb

What is the origin of the proverb "six hours' sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool" and when to use it?

The origin of the proverb "six hours' sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool" is rooted in traditional European beliefs about gender roles and sleep. It suggests that men, who were typically seen as the primary workers, required less sleep to be productive, while women, who were expected to manage household duties, needed slightly more rest. The final part of the saying implies that those who sleep too much, like a fool, are wasting their time. This proverb reflects outdated views on gender, work, and rest, and today it is seen as both sexist and oversimplified, as it does not consider individual sleep needs or modern understandings of health.

example
Examples
When I asked my grandfather how much sleep he got each night, he replied, ' six hours' sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool,' which I found surprising and somewhat offensive.
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