A man may feel so completely thwarted that he seeks no form of satisfaction, but only distraction and oblivion. He then becomes a devotee of 'pleasure.' That is to say, he seeks to make life bearable by becoming less alive. Drunkenness, for example, is temporary suicide.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- When life feels hopeless, people may turn to distractions and pleasures, even self‑destructive ones, to make existence tolerable.
- In plain terms
- People seek distraction and pleasure when they feel defeated.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoiding true satisfaction can lead to harmful habits.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What distinguishes healthy escape from harmful avoidance?
- How can one find life without numbing?
Another view
Not all distraction is harmful; some can be restorative.
More from Bertrand Russell
Men who are unhappy, like men who sleep badly, are always proud of the fact.
Permalink to quote #114 To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.
Permalink to quote #116 The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this …
Permalink to quote #113
Related quotes
As for hobbies, people with stimulating hobbies suffer from the most noxious of despairs since they are tranquilized in their despair. [citation needed]
Walker PercyWalker Percy quote #8 Je parvins a faire s'evanouir dans mon esprit toute l'esperance humaine.
Arthur RimbaudArthur Rimbaud quote #16 'But he who dies in despair has lived his whole life in vain.'
Theodor AdornoTheodor Adorno quote #17