Because the rhythm of conversation makes no allowance for dead periods, because the presence of others calls for continuous responses, we are left to regret the inanity of what we say, and the missed opportunity of what we do not. Alain de Botton More Quotes by Alain de Botton More Quotes From Alain de Botton That said, deciding to avoid other people does not necessarily equate with having no desire whatsoever for company; it may simply reflect a dissatisfaction with what—or who—is available. Cynics are, in the end, only idealists with awkwardly high standards. In Chamfort's words, 'It is sometimes said of a man who lives alone that he does not like society. This is like saying of a man that he does not like going for walks because he is not fond of walking at night in the forêt de Bondy. Alain de Botton men night people Let death find us as we are building up our matchstick protests against its waves. Alain de Botton matchsticks building-up wave Rather than teasing the buyers, we may blame the society in which they lived for setting up a situation where the purchase of ornate cabinets felt psychologically necessary and rewarding, where respect was dependent on baroque displays. Rather than a tale of greed, the history of luxury could more accurately be read as a record of emotional trauma. It is the legacy of those who have felt pressured by the disdain of others to add an extraordinary amount to their bare selves in order to signal that they too may lay a claim to love. Alain de Botton luxury emotional self Instead of bringing back 1600 plants, we might return from our journeys with a collection of small unfêted but life-enhancing thoughts. Alain de Botton journey might travel I went to church and couldn't swallow it. The music was nice but I don't belong there. Alain de Botton nice church Distress at losing an object can be as much a frustration at the intellectual mystery of the disappearance as about the loss itself. Alain de Botton frustration intellectual loss There is a longing for a return to a time without the need for choices, free of the regret at the inevitable loss that all choice (however wonderful) has entailed. Alain de Botton regret choices loss Love is an incurable disease. In love, there is permanent suffering. Those who love and those who are happy are not the same. Alain de Botton disease suffering love-is The lesson? To respond to the unexpected and hurtful behavior of others with something more than a wipe of the glasses, to see it as a chance to expand our understanding. Alain de Botton hurtful glasses understanding Politics is so difficult, it's generally only people who aren't quite up to the task who feel convinced they are. Alain de Botton difficult tasks people The universe is large and we are tiny, without the need for further religious superstructure. One can have so-called spiritual moments without belief in the spirit. Alain de Botton religious spiritual god Rather than getting more spoilt with age, as difficulties pile up, epiphanies of gratitude abound. Alain de Botton gratitude grateful age According to Montaigne, it was the oppressive notion that we had complete mental control over our bodies, and the horror of departing from this portrait of normality, that had left the man unable to perform sexually. Alain de Botton portraits love men In Britain, because I live here, I can also run into problems of envy and competition. But all this is just in a day's work for a writer. You can't put stuff out there without someone calling you a complete fool. Oh, well. Alain de Botton envy writing running Pegging your contentment to the overall state of the world rather than of your own life: the basis of morality, or a sort of madness? Alain de Botton morality contentment world We should keep a careful diary of our moments of envy: they are our covert guides to what we should try to do next. Alain de Botton envy diaries trying The media insists on taking what someone didn't mean to say as being far closer to the truth than what they did. Alain de Botton media mean Gaffe-focused journalism: revenge of intelligent people who know true evils are out there but lack the access/time to get to them. Alain de Botton true-evil intelligent revenge A great writer picks up on those things that matter. It’s almost like their radar is attuned to the most significant moments. Alain de Botton significant moments matter Religions are so subtle, so complicated, so intelligent in many ways that they're not fit to be abandoned to the religious alone; they're for all of us. Alain de Botton intelligent religious god
