This Saturday: a quote from Bertrand Russell.

“The capacity to endure a more or less monotonous life is one which should be acquired in childhood. Modern parents are greatly to blame in this respect; they provide their children with far too many passive amusements, such as shows and good things to eat, and they do not realize the importance to a child of having one day like another, except, of course, for somewhat rare occasions. The pleasures of childhood should in the main be such as the child extracts himself from his environment by means of some effort and inventiveness…certain good things are not possible except where there is a certain degree of monotony. Take, say, Wordsworth’s ‘Prelude.’” --Bertrand Russell

Comments

[James Strock]

Wonderful to see your reference to Russell's classic, The Conquest of Happiness. I just completed another reading of it--I read it every year or so--and everyone I know who reads it feels the same. Am looking forward to your forthcoming book as well!

[Gretchen Rubin]

Hello James Strock -- I agree heartily with your recommendation. "The Conquest of Happiness" is a very rich book, one that bears re-reading. I've only been through it twice, and you've inspired me to pull it off the shelf again. best, Gretchen

[mersenne]

thanks for this quote. i have been used to monotonous life from my childhood, i was able to change the flow of the day, if need be, but there weren't this much tv/computer options and fun for the kids. we used to play out and have fun. anyways, i see teenager girls & boys, desperately trying to find different things to do everyday, else they get bored. It's amazing how he has visualized this problem a few decades earlier and found the potential cause for that in the childhood.. btw a nice project, i'll be checking out once in a while keep it up :)

[Jennifer]

I have told my children that one of the best things I learned as a child was how to be alone and still enjoy my time. It is something I hope they learn as well. I organize some things for them, but also give them time to just be... time to fill themselves.

I see too many parents around me being cruise directors for their children and those children then have no idea how to entertain themselves. They have very short attention spans, little imagination and seem lost until the next activity is placed in front of them.