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Full Idea
Boredom has been, I believe, one of the great motive powers throughout the historical epoch, and is so at the present day more than ever.
Gist of Idea
Boredom is an increasingly strong motivating power
Source
Bertrand Russell (The Conquest of Happiness [1930], 4)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'The Conquest of Happiness' [Unwin 1961], p.37
A Reaction
Most of his essay tells us how to avoid boredom, rather than how it motivates.
| 20180 | A happy and joyous life must largely be a quiet life [Russell] |
| 20177 | Boredom always involves not being fully occupied [Russell] |
| 20179 | Happiness involves enduring boredom, and the young should be taught this [Russell] |
| 20176 | Boredom is an increasingly strong motivating power [Russell] |
| 20178 | Life is now more interesting, but boredom is more frightening [Russell] |