Brilliant Quote by Vito Acconci
“I always thought, I can't waste time, I have to do work. I also thought that I was slower than other people, that I had to concentrate more. I always thought, I'm not brilliant, I have to work. That was something I embedded in myself very early: I have to go home and write. But did I get any more work done than people like Frank O'Hara, who were always going to parties? Probably not.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art and Work, 1995
The speaker internalized a belief that constant work equates to worth, comparing himself to peers who seemed more carefree, questioning productivity myths.
In simple terms: Work isn’t the only measure of value.
Key Takeaway
Balance effort with rest and self‑compassion.
Themes
work ethic
self‑worth
productivity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- office environments
- artist studios
- academic research
- personal development
Key Concepts
psychology
labor economics
creative process
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines productive work for you?
- How can you separate identity from output?
A Different Perspective
Equating busyness with success can lead to burnout.
![“There were times when [he] allowed himself to see clearly that he would end his working life, that was to say, his conscious thinking life, in this task, that all his thoughts would have been another man's thoughts, all his work another man's work. And then he thought it did not perhaps matter so…” quote by A.S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/085/a-s-byatt-5275_another-man_there-were-times-when-he-allowed-himself_2789010.jpg)
![“[Photography was necessary to] make my place in the art-world: in order to do this, I had to make a picture, since a picture was what a gallery or museum was meant to hold (all the while, of course, I was claiming that I was denying the standard, rejecting it...)” quote by Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ee2/vito-acconci-13895_art_photography-was-necessary-to-make-my-pla_205941.jpg)
