If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not a poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place.
—Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) Austrian Poet
As for boredom … I notice that it leaves me as soon as I am doing something that has got to be done.
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933) American Literary Critic, Essayist
A bore is a man who, when you ask him how he is, tells you.
—Bert Leston Taylor (1866–1921) American Columnist, Humorist
Somebody’s boring me; I think it’s me.
—Dylan Thomas (1914–53) Welsh Poet, Author
One of the worst forms of mental suffering is boredom, not knowing what to do with oneself and one’s life. Even if man had no monetary, or any other reward, he would be eager to spend his energy in some meaningful way because he could not stand the boredom which inactivity produces.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
The capacity of human beings to bore one another seems to be vastly greater than that of any other animal.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
When people are bored it is primarily with themselves.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
No one really listens to anyone else, and if you try it for a while you’ll see why.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
A healthy male adult bore consumes each year one and a half times his own weight in other people’s patience.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
The devil’s name is dullness.
—Robert E. Lee (1807–70) Confederate General during American Civil War
Some of the biggest bores I’ve ever known are men who have been highly successful in business, particularly self-made heads of big companies. Before the first olive has settled into the first martini, they pour the stories of their lives into the nearest and sometimes the remotest ears capturable…. These men have indeed paid the price of success. To rise to the top of a big company often takes a totality of effort, concentration and dedication. Others, too, have to pay part of the price. Wife and children are out of mind even when in sight. … .
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
The most destructive criticism is indifference.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
The life of the creative man is lead, directed and controlled by boredom. Avoiding boredom is one of our most important purposes.
—Saul Steinberg (1914–99) American Cartoonist, Illustrator
Boredom is like a pitiless zooming in on the epidermis of time. Every instant is dilated and magnified like the pores of the face.
—Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) French Sociologist, Philosopher
If something is boring after 2 minutes, try it for 4. If still boring, try it for 8, 16, 32, and so on. Eventually, one discovers that it is not boring, but very interesting.
—Zen Proverb Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism
Life swings like a pendulum backward and forward between pain and boredom.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Boredom is the root of all evil—the despairing refusal to be oneself.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
It is the sin that believes in nothing,
cares for nothing,
seeks to know nothing,
interferes with nothing,
enjoys nothing,
hates nothing,
finds purpose in nothing,
lives for nothing,
and remains alive
because there is nothing for which it will die.
—Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) British Crime Writer
Each man reserves to himself alone the right of being tedious.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Boredom is the dream bird that hatches the egg of experience. A rustling in the leaves drives him away.
—Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) German Literary and Marxist Critic
Sir, you have but two topics, yourself and me. I am sick of both.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
In order to live free and happily, you must sacrifice boredom. It is not always an easy sacrifice.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Writer, Aviator
Unless a man has been taught what to do with success after getting it, the achievement of it must inevitably leave him a prey to boredom.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Men are seldom more commonplace than on supreme occasions.
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902) British Victorian Novelist, Essayist, Critic
When we hold back out of laziness, that is when we tie ourselves into knots of boredom.
—Walter H. Annenberg (1908–2002) American Publisher, Art Collector
I am convinced that boredom is one of the greatest tortures. If I were to imagine Hell, it would be the place where you were continually bored.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Passions are less mischievous than boredom, for passions tend to diminish and boredom increase.
—Jules Amedee Barbey d’Aurevilly (1808–89) French Novelist, Essayist, Short Story Writer
People of Wealth and the so called upper class suffer the most from boredom.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
And ’tis remarkable that they talk most who have the least to say.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
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