Single Idea 9305

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

Full Idea

Those who bore others are the plebeians, the crowd, the endless train of humanity in general; those who bore themselves are the chosen ones, the nobility.

Gist of Idea

The plebeians bore others; only the nobility bore themselves

Source

Søren Kierkegaard (Either/Or: a fragment of life [1843], Pt.1), quoted by Lars Svendsen - A Philosophy of Boredom Ch.2

Book Reference

Svendsen,Lars: 'A Philosophy of Boredom' [Reaktion Books 2005], p.57


A Reaction

[p.288 in Princeton Edn] Stunningly elitist, but ask where boredom is most overtly found. "Boring" was once a very fashionable word among the English upper classes. Education and wealth seem to intensify boredom.