Alain de Botton Quotes
293 quotes
in 3828 categories
-
Never, ever become a writer. It's a nightmare.
Ever Become
-
I'm also interested in the modern suggestion that you can have a combination of love and sex in a marriage - which no previous society…
Believed
-
Booksellers are the most valuable destination for the lonely, given the numbers of books that were written because authors couldn't find anyone to talk to.
Anyone
-
I passionately believe that's it's not just what you say that counts, it's also how you say it - that the success of your argument…
Argument
-
Pick up any newspaper or magazine, open the TV, and you'll be bombarded with suggestions of how to have a successful life. Some of these…
Any
-
It's clear to me that there is no good reason for many philosophy books to sound as complicated as they do.
Book
-
The Arab-Israeli conflict is also in many ways a conflict about status: it's a war between two peoples who feel deeply humiliated by the other,…
Arab
-
We are certainly influenced by role models, and if we are surrounded by images of beautiful rich people, we will start to think that to…
Age
-
I learnt to stop fantasising about the perfect job or the perfect relationship because that can actually be an excuse for not living.
Excuse
-
What is fascinating about marriage is why anyone wants to get married.
Anyone
-
I was uncomfortable writing fiction. My love was the personal essay, rather than the novel.
Essay
-
Kant and Hegel are interesting thinkers. But I am happy to insist that they are also terrible writers.
Happy
-
We may seek a fortune for no greater reason than to secure the respect and attention of people who would otherwise look straight through us.
Attention
-
When I see someone like Richard Dawkins, I see my father. I grew up with that. I'm basically the child of Richard Dawkins.
Child
-
On paper, being good sounds great but a lot depends on the atmosphere of the workplace or community we live in. We tend to become…
Atmosphere
-
I assemble my ideas in pieces on a computer file, then gradually find a place for them on a piece of scaffolding I erect.
Assemble
-
I feel that the great challenge of our time is the communication of ideas.
Challenge
-
I know a lot about writing, but I don't know much about how other industries work. I've tried to use my naivety to my advantage.
Advantage
-
I think people want to get married to end their emotional uncertainty. In a way, they want to end powerful feelings, or certainly the negative…
Emotional
-
I went to church and couldn't swallow it. The music was nice but I don't belong there.
Belong
Browse Alain de Botton Quotes by Category