Arguments are like eels: however logical, they may slip from the minds weak grasp unless fixed there by imagery and style. Alain de Botton More Quotes by Alain de Botton More Quotes From Alain de Botton It seems, in fact, that the more advanced a society is, the greater will be its interest in ruined things, for it will see in them a redemptively sobering reminder of the fragility of its own achievements. Ruins pose a direct challenge to our concern with power and rank, with bustle and fame. They puncture the inflated folly of our exhaustive and frenetic pursuit of wealth. Alain de Botton ruins achievement challenges To look at the paper is to raise a seashell to one's ear and to be overwhelmed by the roar of humanity. Alain de Botton humanity ears looks Writing a book has about it some of the anxiety of telling a joke and having to wait several years to know whether or not it was funny. Alain de Botton writing book years Taking photographs can assuage the itch for possession sparked by the beauty of a place; our anxiety over losing a precious scene can decline with every click of the shutter. Alain de Botton anxiety photography losing Rather than employing it as a supplement to active, conscious seeing, they used the medium as a substitute, paying less attention to the world than they had done previously, taking it on faith that photography automatically assured them possession of it. Alain de Botton photography done attention How do the stems connect to the roots?' 'Where is the mist coming from?' 'Why does one tree seem darker than another?' These questions are implicitly asked and answered in the process of sketching. Alain de Botton roots doe tree Every realistic picture represents a choice as to which features of reality should be given prominence; no painting ever captures the whole. Alain de Botton painting choices reality Artistic accounts involve severe abbreviations of what reality will force upon us. Alain de Botton abbreviations artistic reality It is no coincidence that the Western attraction to sublime landscapes developed at precisely the moment when traditional beliefs in God began to wane. Alain de Botton landscape sublime religion It is perhaps sad books that best console us when we are sad. Alain de Botton console sadness book The architects who benefit us most maybe those generous enough to lay aside their claims to genius in order to devote themselves to assembling graceful but predominantly unoriginal boxes. Architecture should have the confidence and the kindness to be a little boring. Alain de Botton should-have kindness order The thing is that love gives us a ringside seat on somebody else's flaws, so of course you're gonna spot some things that kinda need to be mentioned. But often the romantic view is to say, 'If you loved me, you wouldn't criticise me.' Actually, true love is often about trying to teach someone how to be the best version of themselves. Alain de Botton best me true-love love There's a constant tension between the excitement of new people and security with one person. If you go with excitement, you create chaos; you hurt people. There's jealousy, and it gets very messy. If you have security, it can be boring, and you die inside because of all the opportunities missed. Alain de Botton die you jealousy people Laughter is an important part of a good relationship. It's an immense achievement when you can move from your thinking that your partner is merely an idiot to thinking that they are that wonderfully complex thing called a loveable idiot. And often that means having a little bit of a sense of humour about their flaws. Alain de Botton good you achievement relationship I think of myself as quite a shy person. But when I'm curious about something, I'll go quite far to satisfy my curiosity. Alain de Botton myself think shy curiosity Learning to give up on perfection may be just about the most romantic move any of us could make. Alain de Botton us learning perfection romantic The person who is truly best suited to us is not the person who shares our tastes, but the person who can negotiate differences in taste intelligently and wisely. Alain de Botton person best differences taste It's almost a blessing when we meet people who naturally want to do the sort of things that are in high demand in society. What a gift to do that, as opposed to other people who would say, 'I want to be a novelist but actually I have to be an accountant.' Alain de Botton gift society blessing people I like working with people. I believe change can only come through collaboration. Alain de Botton collaboration change believe people When a restaurant is too popular, it starts to harm the reason you are there. Alain de Botton restaurant you harm reason
