I waste most of the day, then finally start to write around 3 P.M., totally disgusted with myself for my wasteful nature. Alain de Botton daydisgustfinally Change image and share on social
There are people who say, 'Oh this guy is quite thick.' I think the reason is that, increasingly, I don't mind being simple in terms of literary expression. Others say, 'No, no, no. He went to Cambridge. He got a good degree. He must be Einstein.' Alain de Botton cambridgedegreeeinstein 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
I was uncomfortable writing fiction. My love was the personal essay, rather than the novel. Alain de Botton essayfictionlove Change image and 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
I'm also interested in the modern suggestion that you can have a combination of love and sex in a marriage - which no previous society has ever believed. Alain de Botton believecombinationinterest Change image and share on social
As an atheist, I think there are lots of things religions get up to which are of value to non-believers - and one of those things is trying to be a bit better than we normally manage to be. Alain de Botton atheistbelieverbite 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 think people want to get married to end their emotional uncertainty. In a way, they want to end powerful feelings, or certainly the negative ones. Alain de Botton emotionalendfeeling Change image and share on social
I've had my successes and failures. I know many academics in my field loathe me. I've come to loathe them back, as it seems only polite to do so. But at heart it's absurd; we should band together against the big common enemies. Alain de Botton absurdacademicback share on social