Plunged up to the ears in work, good friend!" thought…
““Plunged up to the ears in work, good friend!" thought Oblomov as he watched him depart. "Yes, and blind and deaf and dumb to everything else in the world! Yet by going into society and, at the same time, busying yourself about your affairs you will yet win distinction and promotion. Such is what they call 'a career'! Yet of how little use is a man like that! His intellect, his will, his feelings--what do they avail him? So many luxuries is what they are--nothing more. Such an individual lives out his little span without achieving a single thing worth mentioning; and meanwhile he works in an office from morning till night--yes, from morning till night, poor wretch!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A man overwhelmed by work and social obligations loses his purpose, realizing that intellectual and emotional capacities are wasted without meaningful achievement.
In simple terms: Busy life can distract from true purpose.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaningful work over mere activity.
Themes
society
purpose
work
existence
Mood
melancholic
critical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- office life
- career advancement
- personal fulfillment
- existential crisis
Key Concepts
alienation
meaninglessness
career
reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What truly gives your life meaning?
- How can you align work with personal values?
A Different Perspective
Busy routine may still leave one unfulfilled.