Advice Quote by Bertrand Russell
““To all the talented young men who wander about feeling that there is nothing in the world for them to do, I should say: 'Give up trying to write, and, instead, try not to write. Go out into the world; become a pirate, a king in Borneo, a labourer in Soviet Russia; give yourself an existence in which the satisfaction of elementary physical needs will occupy almost all your energies.' I do not recommend this course of action to everyone, but only to those who suffer from the disease which Mr Krutch diagnoses. I believe that, after some years of such an existence, the ex-intellectual will fin that in spite of is efforts he can no longer refrain from writing, and when this time comes his writing will not seem to him futile.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Conquest of Happiness, 1930
He suggests abandoning intellectual pursuits for physical labor to reset creative drive, but only for those truly exhausted by writing.
In simple terms: Take a break from writing, do physical work to regain inspiration.
Key Takeaway
Try a different lifestyle to refresh creativity.
Themes
creativity
exhaustion
career change
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writer's block
- career burnout
- creative reset
- physical labor
- travel
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
work-life balance
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a break from mental work restore creative energy?
- What risks does abandoning a career entail?
A Different Perspective
May not work for everyone; physical work can be unsatisfying.
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
