Chore Quote by Lydia Davis
““But on that particular day I did not even begin to feel interested in this chore, and was suddenly more deeply bored than I have ever been before, and just turned around and went back inside. Which made me wonder why I wanted to do this chore at all, on other days, and also which was real: my slight interest on other days or my profound boredom now. And it made me wonder if I really should be profoundly bored by this chore all the time and never do it again, and if there was something wrong with my mind that I was not bored by it all the time.””
About This Quote
The narrator questions the fluctuating interest and boredom toward a routine task, probing whether the occasional curiosity is genuine or a sign of mental imbalance.
In simple terms: Examines inconsistent motivation for chores.
Key Takeaway
Boredom reveals self‑doubt.
Themes
self‑reflection
motivation
boredom
cognitive dissonance
routine
Mood
introspective
conflicted
curious
Type
philosophical
personal essay
contemplative
When to use this quote
- doing household chores
- facing repetitive work
- evaluating personal drive
- contemplating mental health
Key Concepts
interest
boredom
mindset
habit
Practical Applications
- self‑assessment of task engagement
- identifying patterns of motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does occasional interest tell us about our values?
- How can we distinguish genuine curiosity from fleeting distraction?
![“[S]tudies show that one of the best ways to lift your mood is to engineer an easy success, such as tackling a long-delayed chore.” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/38e/gretchen-rubin-867_chore_s-tudies-show-that-one-of-the-best-ways_483762.jpg)
![“I worked more intensively hour after hour when I was starting out [writing]. More laboriously. I'd say quantity is important as well as quality, and if you're not producing enough, make a schedule and stick to it.” quote by Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/29b/lydia-davis-3244_after-hours_i-worked-more-intensively-hour-after-hou_171566.jpg)
