Alain de Botton: ‘Cynics are only idealists with awkwardly high standards’

May 2nd, 2018

“…a decision to avoid people shouldn’t imply that one has no desire whatever for company. It may simply reflect a dissatisfaction with what is available. Cynics are only idealists with awkwardly high standards. In Chamfort’s words: ‘It is sometimes said of a man who lives alone that he does not like society. This is like saying of a man that he does not like going for walks because he is not fond of walking at night in the forét de Bondy.’

— Alain de Botton, [easyazon_link identifier=”0375725350″ locale=”US” tag=”wells01-20″]Status Anxiety[/easyazon_link]

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Wellsbaum.blog

Alain de Botton: ‘Cynics are only idealists with awkwardly high standards’

Read more

Under the trained eye

A mind run riot

Inseparable opposites

The spotlight of attention

In the spell of imagination

Writing takes guts

Memes are a hurricane of influence

The bright rush of ideas

The invention of things

Swallowing the elements

Tackling the brain’s anxiety bias

We are nobody’s establishment

Strength through struggle

Passion project be damned