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Quote by Tom Hodgkinson

“The idea of a government is to create an ordered, willing work force where there's no trouble. I think idlers are generally seen as potentially dangerous because they're asking questions.”

Quote by Tom Hodgkinson

Author

Tom Hodgkinson is a British writer born in 1968. He is known for his unique sense of humor and critical thinking about modern life. Hodgkinson's works cover a variety of topics, including personal growth, social commentary, and lifestyle. more

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“I like the idea of becoming [fairly] good at lots of things rather than very good at just one thing. So it would be nice to be okay at the guitar or at the piano, a reasonable cook, perhaps able to fix your car or do some basic carpentry, and be able to write the odd article. Rather than being super good at one tiny thing, to be kind of average at lots of things. It might mean that you have a more kind of enjoyable, complete life.”

“Little things like making clothes, baking bread, cooking, even useless things like bird-watching, sketching flowers, playing guitar in the home - that sort of time is gone. And the time we have? We're so exhausted, we want to let ourselves get sucked in to the escape world of TV. I'm speaking from experience; I'm not above all this.”

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Author:Tom Hodgkinson

“I don't put much faith in the political system because it's a question of how are you going to run capitalism, not how are we going to develop a different system to capitalism.”

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Author:Tom Hodgkinson

“Part of this individualism is you feel this pressure that you alone have to conquer the world, and if you don't work all the hours God gives then you start feeling really guilty. If you can stop feeling guilty, then I think it's easier to start doing what you want to do.”

Ifs Thinking World Want Giving Feels Feelings Hours Easier Pressure What You Want Guilty Conquer Individualism Conquer The World Feeling Guilty Doing What You Want

Author:Tom Hodgkinson

“The way to stop feeling guilty is to read stuff - I'm not saying my book, but works by Bertrand Russell or Oscar Wilde, people who weren't losers but who didn't believe in the work ethic, and argued this thing about guilt or wrote philosophy about idleness.”

People Way Believe Book Philosophy Feelings Stuff Ethics Guilt Guilty Loser Oscars Work Ethic Idleness Wilde Feeling Guilty

Author:Tom Hodgkinson

“There are a lot of little tricks you can do to inject a bit more time into the day. Most important is limiting yourself to a 40 hour week, not working 50 hours or 60 or 70. It's just crazy. It's actually irresponsible to you and irresponsible to your family and friends. Why should your employer's profits be more important than your own family? You're not even going to get any of the profits - all you get is not losing your job. It's a very negative system.”

Should Littles Important Jobs Bits Can Do Hours Week Crazy Losing Negative Profit Tricks Our Family More Time Family And Friends Employers Irresponsible Limiting Yourself

Author:Tom Hodgkinson

“Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on earning you a living without you doing any more work on it. It's absolutely ideal for an idler.”

Writing Book Done Goes On Ideals Finished Brilliant Earning Without You Writing A Book Idlers

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“I think it's good to look at how people lived before, and then take the best bits of that culture and try to mix it in with your own.”

People Thinking Trying Looks Culture Bits

Author:Tom Hodgkinson

“China didn't want to lose the cutting edge of technology. So the idea of having a Sina Weibo was an attempt to compete with Twitter. However, it has no soul - which is freedom of expression. Nevertheless, I think the government regrets having Sina Weibo, but they cannot shut it down. That would definitely be suicidal.”

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“If I walk on the street, if I go to a restaurant, people come to me and say: "Can we take a photo together? Can you give me your autograph?" They would bring their expensive Armani or Prada wallet to sign. Other people who are desperate show me a photo of their dead daughter and ask: Can you support me? I tell them: How can I? Morally, of course, I sympathize with you. But I cannot support you and you cannot support me. This is the condition of this society. We are separated.”