more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 20176

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 4. Boredom]

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 Reference

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.