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Quote by Alain de Botton

“We are presented with an unpleasant choice between either committing to peculiar concepts about immaterial deities or letting go entirely of a host of consoling, subtle or just charming rituals for which we struggle to find equivalents in secular society.”

Quote by Alain de Botton

Author

Alain de Botton

Alain de Botton is a Swiss writer and philosopher known for his books on philosophy, art, and culture. His work is characterized by its accessible exploration of profound themes, which has won him a wide audience. more

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“Sublime places repeat in grand terms a lesson that ordinary life typically teaches viciously: that the universe is mightier than we are, that we are frail and temporary and have no alternative but to accept limitations on our will; that we must bow to necessities greater than ourselves.”

Universe Term Accepting Teach Greater Lessons Ordinary Alternatives Limitation Repeats Temporary Bows Sublime Ordinary Life Frail

Author:Alain de Botton

“Objectively good spaces to work rarely end up being so; in their faultlessness, quiet and well-equipped studios have a habit of rendering the fear of failure overwhelming. Original thoughts are like shy animals. We sometimes have to look the other way - towards a busy street or terminal - before they run out of their burrows.”

Way Wells Looks Ends Sometimes Running Space Animal Streets Habit Quiet Originals Busy Studios Shy Overwhelming Fear Of Failure Rendering Terminal Original Thought

Author:Alain de Botton

“Work finally begins when the fear of doing nothing exceeds the fear of doing it badly.”

Writing Exceed Doing Nothing

Author:Alain de Botton

“The only possible way to begin a book is to tell oneself that its eventual failure is guaranteed — but survivable.”

Way Book Oneself

Author:Alain de Botton

“The happiness that may emerge from taking a second look is central to Proust's therapeutic conception. It reveals the extent to which our dissatisfactions may be the result of failing to look properly at our lives rather than the result of anything inherently deficient about them.”

Looks May Results Our Lives Failing Conception Dissatisfaction Therapeutic Proust

Book:How Proust Can Change Your Life

Source: How Proust Can Change Your Life

“Taking architecture seriously therefore makes some singular and strenuous demands upon us...It means conceding that we are inconveniently vulnerable to the colour of our wallpaper and that our sense of purpose may be derailed by an unfortunate bedspread”

May Mean Purpose Demand Architecture Vulnerable Colour Unfortunate

Author:Alain de Botton

“What we find exotic abroad may be what we hunger for in vain at home.”

May Home Hunger Vain Exotic

Author:Alain de Botton

“I tried good taste, but the strain was too much for me.”

Too Much Taste Strain Good Taste

Author:Mason Cooley

“Experience teaches us, but we scarcely know what.”

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“Forget what hurt you but never forget what it thaught you.”

Hurt Forget Letting Go Moving Forward Never Forget Letting You Go Letting Go And Moving On Moving Forward In Life Moving On In Life Just Move On Never Let Go I Hurt You Those Who Hurt You

Author:Mason Cooley