Art Quote by David Rakoff
““During the act of making something, I experience a kind of blissful absence of the self and a loss of time. When I am done, I return to both feeling as restored as if I had been on a trip. I almost never get this feeling any other way. I once spent sixteen hours making 150 wedding invitations by hand and was not for one instance of that time tempted to eat or look at my watch. By contrast, if seated at the computer, I check my email conservatively 30,000 times a day. When I am writing, I must have a snack, call a friend, or abuse myself every ten minutes. I used to think that this was nothing more than the difference between those things we do for love and those we do for money. But that can't be the whole story. I didn't always write for a living, and even back when it was my most fondly held dream to one day be able to do so, writing was always difficult. Writing is like pulling teeth. From my dick.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “The Art of Making Things”, 2012
When fully absorbed in creative work, self‑awareness fades and time disappears, leaving a restorative, blissful state unlike routine tasks.
In simple terms: Deep focus creates a timeless, rewarding flow state.
Key Takeaway
Seek activities that induce flow.
Themes
creativity
focus
flow
ful‑care
meaning
Mood
engaged
reflective
inspired
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- handcrafting
- writing
- design
- artistic projects
- long‑duration tasks
Key Concepts
psychology
mindfulness
intrinsic motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What activities make you lose track of time?
- How can you cultivate flow in daily work?
A Different Perspective
Flow may be hard to sustain without breaks or external pressures.
