--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I do have a sort of terrible…" description: "\"I think I do have a sort of terrible propensity for boredom and for being bored, even though I am absolutely of the opinion that one shouldn't be bored..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/geoff-dyer-8822_being-bored_i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-pro_3107323.jpg" --- # I think I do have a sort of terrible propensity for… ![“I think I do have a sort of terrible propensity for boredom and for being bored, even though I am absolutely of the opinion that one shouldn't be bored and that there is no excuse for it and that it is a personal failing.” quote by Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/geoff-dyer-8822_being-bored_i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-pro_3107323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/geoff-dyer-8822_being-bored_i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-pro_3107323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/geoff-dyer-8822_being-bored_i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-pro_3107323.jpg) > “I think I do have a sort of terrible propensity for boredom and for being bored, even though I am absolutely of the opinion that one shouldn't be bored and that there is no excuse for it and that it is a personal failing.” [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Boredom is framed as a personal flaw, yet it often signals deeper dissatisfaction or lack of engagement. **In simple terms:** Boredom is seen as a personal failing. Key Takeaway Seek meaningful engagement. Themes boredom self‑critique motivation Mood introspective thoughtful Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - daily routines - creative projects - learning new skills Key Concepts existentialism psychology habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your boredom? - Can boredom be productive? A Different Perspective Boredom can be a useful signal, not just a defect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being bored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-bored/) [Bored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bored/) [Boredom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boredom/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [No excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-excuses/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [You have to learn to take rejection not as an indication of personal failing but as a wrong address.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-have-to-learn-to-take-rejection-not-as-an-indication-of-personal/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Strive for perfection - never be content with mediocrity. You don't win until you conquer the little flaws. You don't beat these great ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-richards/strive-for-perfection-never-be-content-with-mediocrity-you-don-t-win/) [Bob Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-richards/) > [However, President Obama's unwillingness to attend the Paris march is a personal failing on his part that I believe does damage to the pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ungar/however-president-obama-s-unwillingness-to-attend-the-paris-march-is/) Rick Ungar > [“At this point in my travels and in my life, I still regard changing course as a personal failing. I don't yet have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-friedman/at-this-point-in-my-travels-and-in-my-life-i-still-regard-changing/) [Rachel Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-friedman/) > [One thing that I discovered about myself is I really don't like traveling. I feel like it's a terrible personal failing, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/one-thing-that-i-discovered-about-myself-is-i-really-don-t-like/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [Being bored is not a legitimate excuse to post 1000+ webcam photos of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-bored-is-not-a-legitimate-excuse-to-post-1000-webcam-photos-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well, Im bored again. Time to open the fridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-im-bored-again-time-to-open-the-fridge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[To become a poet\] The most important thing is to pay attention. The next would probably be to read; it's so important to pay… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/to-become-a-poet-the-most-important-thing-is-to-pay-attention-the/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [Why should I stop working? If I do, I'll die and it'll all be finished. 'm lucky to work in the most perfect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/why-should-i-stop-working-if-i-do-i-ll-die-and-it-ll-all-be-finished/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [When you're bored and you just take some pictures of your self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shennon-fabiano/when-you-re-bored-and-you-just-take-some-pictures-of-your-self/) [Shennon Fabiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shennon-fabiano/) > [Dear Brain, Please start being able to tell the difference between hungry and bored. Sincerely, I am getting fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-brain-please-start-being-able-to-tell-the-difference-between/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is what I do when I'm bored as fuck just taking pics!!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann/this-is-what-i-do-when-i-m-bored-as-fuck-just-taking-pics/) Joann > [A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-who-lets-himself-be-bored-is-even-more-contemptible-than-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [~comment if you wanna~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-gone/comment-if-you-wanna/) She's\_gone > [I'm bored of being bored because being bored is very boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/i-m-bored-of-being-bored-because-being-bored-is-very-boring/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) ## More by Geoff Dyer > [I think I can recognize when a piece is at a state of completion. I always say to my wife, "Oh yeah, it's roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-think-i-can-recognize-when-a-piece-is-at-a-state-of-completion-i/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [“I've always liked things I can just trance out to. Because what that means is that you've escaped the chafe of time. Often when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-ve-always-liked-things-i-can-just-trance-out-to-because-what-that/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [One of the reasons so many nonfiction books are so boring is because what they've done, very diligently, is fulfill the terms of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/one-of-the-reasons-so-many-nonfiction-books-are-so-boring-is-because/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [I really like the George Clooney of Solaris also filmed by Andrei Tarkovsky, before Steven Soderbergh: that's very obviously sci-fi, and it seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-really-like-the-george-clooney-of-solaris-also-filmed-by-andrei/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [When you are lonely, writing can keep you company. It is also a form of self-compensation, a way of making up for things—as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/when-you-are-lonely-writing-can-keep-you-company-it-is-also-a-form-of/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [Nine times out of 10, the most charming thing to say in any given situation will be the exact opposite of what one really feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/nine-times-out-of-10-the-most-charming-thing-to-say-in-any-given/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [In foreign countries, when people see what Donald Trump is saying on Twitter since the election and seeing what he's saying in these calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/in-foreign-countries-when-people-see-what-donald-trump-is-saying-on/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [I would agree on the aging thing. Because, at a certain point, once you start noticing it, it is your subject. And I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-would-agree-on-the-aging-thing-because-at-a-certain-point-once-you/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [If you help them (the crew) create good memories, they'll forget all the bad stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/if-you-help-them-the-crew-create-good-memories-they-ll-forget-all-the/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [“Photographers sometimes take pictures of each other; occasionally they take pictures of each other at work; more usually they take photographs - or versions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/photographers-sometimes-take-pictures-of-each-other-occasionally-they/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [Have more than one idea on the go at any one time. If it's a choice between writing a book and doing nothing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/have-more-than-one-idea-on-the-go-at-any-one-time-if-it-s-a-choice/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [“We'd never seen anything as green as these rice paddies. It was not just the paddies themselves: the surrounding vegetation - foliage so dense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/we-d-never-seen-anything-as-green-as-these-rice-paddies-it-was-not/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [I always like to be in the presence of people who are good at and love their jobs, Irrespective of their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-always-like-to-be-in-the-presence-of-people-who-are-good-at-and/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [“The paradox is that some of the most artistically valuable contemporary photographs are content with being photographs, are not under the same compulsion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/the-paradox-is-that-some-of-the-most-artistically-valuable/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [“So far I’ve only read a page but I like that page a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/so-far-i-ve-only-read-a-page-but-i-like-that-page-a-lot/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) [Explore all 76 Geoff Dyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) ## More Being bored quotes > [I'm bored of being bored because being bored is very boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/i-m-bored-of-being-bored-because-being-bored-is-very-boring/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [~comment if you wanna~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-gone/comment-if-you-wanna/) She's\_gone > [A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-who-lets-himself-be-bored-is-even-more-contemptible-than-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [This is what I do when I'm bored as fuck just taking pics!!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann/this-is-what-i-do-when-i-m-bored-as-fuck-just-taking-pics/) Joann > [Dear Brain, Please start being able to tell the difference between hungry and bored. Sincerely, I am getting fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-brain-please-start-being-able-to-tell-the-difference-between/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're bored and you just take some pictures of your self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shennon-fabiano/when-you-re-bored-and-you-just-take-some-pictures-of-your-self/) [Shennon Fabiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shennon-fabiano/) > [Why should I stop working? If I do, I'll die and it'll all be finished. 'm lucky to work in the most perfect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/why-should-i-stop-working-if-i-do-i-ll-die-and-it-ll-all-be-finished/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [ \[To become a poet\] The most important thing is to pay attention. The next would probably be to read; it's so important to pay… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/to-become-a-poet-the-most-important-thing-is-to-pay-attention-the/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [Well, Im bored again. Time to open the fridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-im-bored-again-time-to-open-the-fridge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being bored is not a legitimate excuse to post 1000+ webcam photos of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-bored-is-not-a-legitimate-excuse-to-post-1000-webcam-photos-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I die prematurely at any rate I shall be saved from being bored to death by my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-i-die-prematurely-at-any-rate-i-shall-be-saved-from-being-bored-to/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [What is the task of higher education? To make a man into a machine. What are the means employed? He is taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-is-the-task-of-higher-education-to-make-a-man-into-a-machine/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Be the person you wannna be dont let any one chage you lil cutie noone will hurt your stronger than they are, I love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolas-sixx-is-single-now/be-the-person-you-wannna-be-dont-let-any-one-chage-you-lil-cutie/) Nikolas Sixx Is Single Now > [When you have to study, even the ceiling looks more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-have-to-study-even-the-ceiling-looks-more-interesting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im bored by doing nothing this day.. wtf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ramales/im-bored-by-doing-nothing-this-day-wtf/) [Emily Ramales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ramales/) [Browse all 117 Being bored quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-bored/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I do have a sort of terrible propensity for boredom and for being bored, even though I am absolutely of the opinion that one shouldn't be bored and that there is no excuse for it and that it is a personal failing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geoff Dyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-propensity-for-boredom-and-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being bored" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-propensity-for-boredom-and-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/geoff-dyer-8822_being-bored_i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-pro_3107323.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/geoff-dyer-8822_being-bored_i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-pro_3107323.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/geoff-dyer-8822_being-bored_i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-pro_3107323.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think I do have a sort of terrible propensity for boredom and for being bored, even though I am absolutely…” — Geoff Dyer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Geoff Dyer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think I do have a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-propensity-for-boredom-and-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-think-i-do-have-a-sort-of-terrible-propensity-for-boredom-and-for/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```