Addict Quote by David Foster Wallace
““The root of addict in latin is the word addicere, which means religious devotion. It was an attribute of beginning monks. There is an element in the book [Infinite Jest] in which various people are living out something that I think is true, which is that we all worship. We all have a religious impulse. We can choose, to an extent, what we worship, but the myth that we worship nothing and give ourselves away to nothing, simply sets ourselves up to give ourselves away to something different. For instance, pleasure or drugs or the idea of having a lot of money, being able to buy nice stuff.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, 1996
Humans have an innate drive to worship something, often substituting material or hedonistic pursuits for deeper spiritual fulfillment.
In simple terms: We always worship something, even if it’s pleasure or money.
Recognize and redirect your worship toward meaningful values.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- therapy
- financial planning
- addiction recovery
- mindfulness
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What do you currently worship?
- How can you shift worship toward healthier pursuits?
Worship can become unhealthy if directed toward harmful objects or habits.