--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not opium which makes me work but…" description: "\"It is not opium which makes me work but its absence, and in order for me to feel its absence it must from time to time be present.\" — Antonin Artaud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/antonin-artaud-3802_absence_it-is-not-opium-which-makes-me-work-but_650699.png" --- # It is not opium which makes me work but its absence, and… ![“It is not opium which makes me work but its absence, and in order for me to feel its absence it must from time to time be present.” quote by Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/antonin-artaud-3802_absence_it-is-not-opium-which-makes-me-work-but_650699.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/antonin-artaud-3802_absence_it-is-not-opium-which-makes-me-work-but_650699.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/antonin-artaud-3802_absence_it-is-not-opium-which-makes-me-work-but_650699.png) > “It is not opium which makes me work but its absence, and in order for me to feel its absence it must from time to time be present.” [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work is driven by the desire to escape a state of emptiness, which itself is felt when that emptiness is absent. **In simple terms:** Work fills the void we fear. Key Takeaway Identify and address underlying motivations. Themes motivation absence creativity Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - career counseling - creative blocks - mental health therapy Key Concepts existential drive psychology of work Questions to Reflect On - What void are you trying to fill with work? - How can you find balance between productivity and rest? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on emptiness may cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Absence Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence-time-1668511/) [Feel Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-absence-553184/) [Opium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opium/) [Opium Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opium-makes-5204488/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-absence-5204487/) ## Related quotes > [“Opium makes you quick-witted - perhaps only because it calms the nerves and stills the emotions. 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