“We need to claim lunch back. It is our natural right. It has been stolen from us by our rulers. The fear that keeps you chained to your desk, staring at your screen, does not serve your spirit. Lunch is a time to forget about being sensible, practical, efficient. A proper lunch should be spiritually as well as physically nourishing. Cosy, convivial, a treat; lunch is for loafers.” NeedsShouldWellsDoeHas BeensSpiritNaturalForgetTreatsClaimsScreensPracticalsStaringLunchSensibleEfficientRulersDesksStolenChainedCosyLoafers Book:How to be Idle Source: How to be Idle
“The terrible thing about the internet and Amazon is that they take the magic and happy chaos out of book shopping. The internet might give you what you want, but it won't give you what you need.” WantNeedsGivingBookMightMagicInternetTerribleChaosWhat You WantShoppingTerrible ThingsAmazon Author:Tom Hodgkinson
“I would like to propose slow cycling. Commute by bike. At a stroke, you remove the need for and absurd cost of public transport. Cycling is almost completely free. There is no longer any need for the gym as you get fit by cycling. And you can go at your own pace.” NeedsFitCostAbsurdRemoveGymPaceStrokesBikeProposeTransportCyclingGet Fit Author:Tom Hodgkinson
“We think we have to work because the advertising industry has elevated wants into needs. The newspapers and the television batter us incessantly with the latest "must-haves", whether that's shoes, videogames or patio heaters. As a result, mums think they "have" to work at Tesco in order to buy expensive trainers.” ThinkingWantNeedsOrderResultsTelevisionIndustryShoesNewspapersAdvertisingExpensiveMumTrainersIncessantlyVideogameAdvertising IndustryTesco Author:Tom Hodgkinson
“If Adam and Eve were not hunter-gatherers, then they were certainly gatherers. But, then, consumer desire, or self-embitterment, or the 'itch,' as Schopenhauer called it, appeared in the shape of the serpent. This capitalistic monster awakens in Adam and Eve the possibility that things could be better. Instantly, they are cast out of the garden and condemned to a life of toil, drudgery, and pain. Wants supplanted needs, and things have been going downhill ever since.” IfsWantNeedsHas BeensSelfPainDesirePossibilityShapesGardenCastsMonstersConsumersAdamToilHuntersSerpentAdam And EveDrudgeryHunter Gatherers Author:Tom Hodgkinson
“Pain will never leave us. Instead of putting energy into destroying pain, we need to put energy into creating pleasure.” NeedsPainEnergyPleasureCreatingDestroying Book:How to be Free Source: How to be Free
“Being good to people is the only insurance policy you need.” PeopleNeedsPolicyBe GoodInsurance Policy Author:Tom Hodgkinson
“I've never understood activity holidays since we seem to have far too much activity in our daily lives as it is. Find a culture where loafing is the order of the day and where they don't understand our need to be constantly doing things. Find somewhere you can have a hammock holiday.” InspirationalNeedsSeemsOrderCultureToo MuchActivityUnderstoodHolidayDaily LifeHammocksLoafing Author:Tom Hodgkinson
