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Quote by Alan Watts

“Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way.”

Quote by Alan Watts

Author

Alan Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker known for his exploration of the relationship between Eastern and Western thought, particularly focusing on Zen Buddhism and its influence on Western culture. His work has influenced many in the areas of spirituality, psychology, and the philosophy of science. more

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“How is it possible that a being with such sensitive jewels as the eyes, such enchanted musical instruments as the ears, and such a fabulous arabesque of nerves as the brain can experience itself as anything less than a god? And, when you consider that this incalculably subtle organism is inseparable from the still more marvelous patterns of its environment - from the minutest electrical designs to the whole company of the galaxies - how is it conceivable that this incarnation of all eternity can be bored with being?”

“To play so as to be relaxed and refreshed for work is not to play, and no work is well and finely done unless it, too, is a form of play.”

Wells Done Play Motivational Form Relaxed

Book:The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

Source: The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

“Nothing satisfies an individual incapable of enjoyment.”

Motivational Individual Enjoyment Incapable

Book:The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

Source: The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

“Wonder, and its expression in poetry and the arts, are among the most important things which seem to distinguish men from other animals, and intelligent and sensitive people from morons.”

People Men Art Important Seems Motivational Animal Wonder Expression Intelligent Important Things Sensitive Moron

Book:The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

Source: The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

“A philosopher is a sort of intellectual yokel who gawks at things that sensible people take for granted.”

People Intellectual Philosopher Granted Sensible

Book:Eastern Wisdom, Modern Life: Collected Talks: 1960-1969

Source: Eastern Wisdom, Modern Life: Collected Talks: 1960-1969

“You find out that the universe is a system that creeps up on itself and says 'Boo' and then laughs at itself for jumping.”

Universe Laughing Jumping Creeps

Author:Alan Watts

“To go out of your mind once a day is tremendously important, because by going out of your mind you come to your senses. And if you stay in your mind all of the time, you are over rational, in other words you are like a very rigid bridge which because it has no give; no craziness in it, is going to be blown down by the first hurricane.”

Ifs Giving Mind Firsts Important Senses Rational Bridges Going Out Hurricanes Craziness

Author:Alan Watts

“The Tao belongs neither to knowing nor not knowing. Knowing is false understanding; not knowing is blind ignorance. If you really understand the Tao beyond doubt, it's like the empty sky. Why drag in right and wrong?”

Ifs Understanding Knowing Doubt Sky Ignorance Empty Blind Drag Not Knowing Tao

Book:Tao: The Watercourse Way

Source: Tao: The Watercourse Way

“There is no way of making a hedge grow like pruning it. There is no way of making sex interesting like repressing it.”

Way Sex Grows Interesting Pruning

Book:Myth and Religion: The Edited Transcripts

Source: Myth and Religion: The Edited Transcripts

“Western religions are more concerned with behavior, doctrine, and belief than with any transformation of the way in which we are aware of ourselves and our world.”

World Way Belief Behavior Concerned Transformation Western Doctrine Our World

Author:Alan Watts