ysabetwordsmith: Cats playing with goldfish (Default)
ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2018-12-29 02:29 am

In Praise of Leisure

Here's a whole set of quotes. This one is my idea of a good world.

"In a world where no one is compelled to work more than four hours a day, every person possessed of scientific curiosity will be able to indulge it, and every painter will be able to paint without starving, however excellent his pictures may be. Young writers will not be obliged to draw attention to themselves by sensational potboilers, with a view to acquiring the economic independence needed for monumental works, for which, when the time at last comes, they will have lost the taste and the capacity."
-- Bertrand Russell
pronker: barnabas and angelique vibing (Default)

[personal profile] pronker 2018-12-30 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
they will have lost the taste and the capacity." This shows what sounds like Russell's own experience, and quite a lot of wisdom re the passage of time from fiery Youth With A Message to Lowered Expectations Middle Age or Old Age. I like the "compelled to work" phrase because that allows for those who want to work more than four hours daily.