“It seems to me that all of the evil in life comes from idleness, boredom, and psychic emptiness, but all of that is inevitable when you become accustomed to living at others’ expense.”

—  Anton Chekhov , book My Life

My Life (1896)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "It seems to me that all of the evil in life comes from idleness, boredom, and psychic emptiness, but all of that is ine…" by Anton Chekhov?
Anton Chekhov photo
Anton Chekhov 222
Russian dramatist, author and physician 1860–1904

Related quotes

Sören Kierkegaard photo
M. K. Hobson photo
Sören Kierkegaard photo

“Far from idleness being the root of all evil, it is rather the only true good.”

Sören Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, founder of Existentialism
Sören Kierkegaard photo

“Boredom is the root of all evil - the despairing refusal to be oneself.”

Sören Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, founder of Existentialism
Karen Horney photo

“It is amazing how obtuse otherwise intelligent patients can become when it is a matter of seeing the inevitability of cause and effect in psychic matters.”

Neurosis and Human Growth (1950), Chapter 2, Neurotic Claims
Context: It is amazing how obtuse otherwise intelligent patients can become when it is a matter of seeing the inevitability of cause and effect in psychic matters. I am thinking of rather self-evident connections such as these: if we want to achieve something, we must put in work; if we want to become independent, we must strive toward assuming responsibility for ourselves. Or: so long as we are arrogant, we will be vulnerable. Or: so long as we do not love ourselves, we cannot possibly believe that others love us, and must by necessity be suspicious toward any assertion of love. Patients presented with such sequences of cause and effect may start to argue, to become befogged or evasive.

Will Durant photo

“Here and everywhere is the struggle for existence, life inextricably enmeshed with war. All life living at the expense of life, every organism eating other organisms forever.”

Will Durant (1885–1981) American historian, philosopher and writer

Source: Fallen Leaves (2014), Ch. 4 : On Old Age

“We have become accustomed to living our life with joy amidst pain and challenges”

Dana Reeve (1961–2006) Actress, singer, activist

Access Hollywood Interview (May 2005)

Related topics