more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 20179

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

Full Idea

A certain power of enduring boredom is essential to a happy life, and is one of the things that ought to be taught to the young.

Gist of Idea

Happiness involves enduring boredom, and the young should be taught this

Source

Bertrand Russell (The Conquest of Happiness [1930], 4)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'The Conquest of Happiness' [Unwin 1961], p.40


A Reaction

As an example he suggests that Wordsworth would never have written 'The Prelude' is he had never been bored when young. Which suggests that Russell doesn't really get boredom, seeing it merely as a stimulus to work.