Achievement Quote by Iain M. Banks
““I could try composing wonderful musical works, or day-long entertainment epics, but what would that do? Give people pleasure? My wiping this table gives me pleasure. And people come to a clean table, which gives them pleasure. And anyway" - the man laughed - "people die; stars die; universes die. What is any achievement, however great it was, once time itself is dead? Of course, if all I did was wipe tables, then of course it would seem a mean and despicable waste of my huge intellectual potential. But because I choose to do it, it gives me pleasure. And," the man said with a smile, "it's a good way of meeting people. So where are you from, anyway?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Player of Games, Iain M. Banks, 1988
The speaker questions the value of grand artistic achievements versus simple, personal pleasures, suggesting meaning comes from chosen actions that bring joy and connection.
In simple terms: Great works may be meaningless; small chosen acts can be fulfilling.
Key Takeaway
Find joy in the tasks you choose.
Themes
meaning
pleasure
purpose
choice
Mood
reflective
contemplative
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- daily chores
- creative projects
- social interactions
- personal rituals
Key Concepts
existentialism
subjective value
mundane vs. grand
Questions to Reflect On
- What small act brings you unexpected joy?
- How do you balance personal pleasure with societal contribution?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook the broader impact of art on culture and future generations.
![“[I]t was really only in the generation or two before hers that the idea had started to traverse the spectrum of likelihood in the popular imagination, beginning at unthinkable, progressing to absurd, then going from possible but unlikely to probable and likely, before eventually arriving – round…” quote by Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e3b/iain-m-banks-3729_ideas_i-t-was-really-only-in-the-generation-or_47398.jpg)
