Chris Blattman

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What explains why I work so much. Or rather why I don’t work so much.

there is only one way in this world to achieve true happiness, and that is to express yourself with all your skill and enthusiasm in a career that appeals to you more than any other. In such a career, you feel a sense of purpose, a sense of achievement. You feel you are making a contribution. It is not work.

An excerpt from How to Avoid Work, written by  William J. Reilly in 1949.

Via Brainpickings, which has many more interesting quotes from the book.

I am curious how culturally specific is this sentiment. Reader thoughts on your own country/culture?

9 Responses

  1. We were taught in school that our culture especially “lives to work” (in the vein you’re describing), but that others, and I’m thinking generally Mediterranean cultures, “work to live.” Hence in many of these countries it’s appropriate to take two+ hr. lunch breaks, leave early, etc.

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