All tours are filled with humiliation. My publisher once hired a private jet to fly me to a venue where 1,000 people were waiting. It almost bankrupted him. Alain de Botton 000bankruptfill Change image and share on social
When I see someone like Richard Dawkins, I see my father. I grew up with that. I'm basically the child of Richard Dawkins. Alain de Botton basicallychilddawkin Change image and share on social
It's very hard to respect people on holiday - everybody looks so silly at the beach, it makes you hate humanity - but when you see people at their work they elicit respect, whether it's a mechanic, a stonemason or an accountant. Alain de Botton accountantbeachelicit share on social
Status anxiety definitely exists at a political level. Many Iraqis were annoyed with the US essentially for reasons of status: for not showing them respect, for humiliating them. Alain de Botton annoyanxietyessentially Change image and share on social
Work is a way of bringing order to chaos, and there's a basic satisfaction in seeing that we are able to make something a little more coherent by the end of the day. Alain de Botton basicbringchaos Change image and share on social
I love the idea of a university as away from capitalist values, where people can do things that don't immediately have to pay their way. It's like a monastery in a way, and that beautiful refuge has been destroyed by dogma about what this stuff is for. Alain de Botton beautifulcapitalistdestroy share on social
I was a very un-literary child, which might reassure parents with kids who don't read. Alain de Botton childkidliterary Change image and share on social
Pick up any newspaper or magazine, open the TV, and you'll be bombarded with suggestions of how to have a successful life. Some of these suggestions are deeply unhelpful to our own projects and priorities - and we should take care. Alain de Botton bombardcaredeeply share on social
I passionately believe that's it's not just what you say that counts, it's also how you say it - that the success of your argument critically depends on your manner of presenting it. Alain de Botton argumentcountcritically Change image and share on social
It's clear to me that there is no good reason for many philosophy books to sound as complicated as they do. Alain de Botton bookclearcomplicate Change image and share on social
