Alain de Botton Quotes, Light Quotes, Smell Quotes

Most of our childhood is stored not in photos, but in certain biscuits, lights of day, smells, textures of carpet.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Light Quotes , Smell Quotes

There are selections so acute that they come to define a place, with the result that we can no longer travel through that landscape without being reminded of what a great artist noticed there.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Artist Quotes , Greatness Quotes

The universe is large and we are tiny, without the need for further religious superstructure. One can have so-called spiritual moments without belief in the spirit.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , God Quotes , Spiritual Quotes

Philosophy, art, politics, religion and bohemia have never sought to do away entirely with the status hierarchy; they have attemptee, rather, to institute new kinds of hierarchies based on sets of values unrecognised by, and critical of, those of the majority.. They have provided us with persuasive and consoling reminders that there is more than one way of succeeding in life.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Art Quotes , Philosophy Quotes

Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing, we cannot properly speak until there is someone who can understand what we are saying in essence, we are not wholly alive until we are loved.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Essence Quotes , Alive Quotes

The mind may be reluctant to think properly when thinking is all it is supposed to do; the task can be as paralysing as having to tell a joke or mimic an accent on demand.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Mind Quotes

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.'

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Simple Quotes , Thinking Quotes

One rarely falls in love without being as much attracted to what is interestingly wrong with someone as what is objectively healthy.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Falling In Love Quotes , Health Quotes

The greatest works of art speak to us without knowing us.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Art Quotes , Knowing Quotes

Maturity: knowing where you're crazy, trying to warn others of the fact and striving to keep yourself under control.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Crazy Quotes , Maturity Quotes

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.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Atheist Quotes , Thinking Quotes

Sweetness is the opposite of machismo, which is everywhere-and I really don't get on with machismo. I'm interested in sensitivity, and weakness, and fear, and anxiety, because I think that, at the end of the day, behind our masks, that's what we are.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Opposites Quotes

My writing always came out of a very personal place, out of an attempt to stay sane.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Writing Quotes

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.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Believe Quotes , Argument Quotes

A 'good job' can be both practically attractive while still not good enough to devote your entire life to.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Jobs Quotes , Work Quotes

It would scarcely be acceptable, for example, to ask in the course of an ordinary conversation what our society holds to be the purpose of work.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Ordinary Quotes , Example Quotes

Year-end financial statements express a truth about office life which is no less irrefutable yet also, in the end, no less irrelevant or irritating than an evolutionary biologist's proud reminder that the purpose of existence lies in the propagation of our genes.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Lying Quotes , Years Quotes

Good sex isn't just fun, it keeps us sane and happy. Having sex with someone makes us feel wanted, alive and potent.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Happiness Quotes , Sex Quotes

Our responses to the world are crucially moulded by the company we keep, for we temper our curiosity to fit in with the expectations of others.

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes , Friendship Quotes , Travel Quotes

What am I supposed to do here? What am I supposed to think?

6 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Alain de Botton Quotes