Alain de Botton Quotes on Work, born December 20, 1969, in Zurich, Switzerland, is a British-Swiss philosopher and author known for his accessible approach to philosophy, exploring human experiences in books like The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work (2009) and The School of Life: An Emotional Education (2019). As founder of The School of Life, he examines work’s emotional and philosophical dimensions, questioning its role in identity, fulfillment, and society. These 15 quotes—sourced from his books, interviews, and posts on X—reflect his insights on work, ambition, meaning, and balance, infused with his empathetic and introspective style.
15 Alain de Botton Quotes on Work
- “There is no such thing as work-life balance. Everything worth fighting for unbalances your life.” (How to Think More About Sex, 2012)
- “Work is most fulfilling when it feels like a response to a calling, even if that calling is quiet and obscure.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “The most reliable path to misery at work is to expect it to make us consistently happy.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “Our jobs are never just jobs; they are part of how we try to make sense of our lives.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “One of the great sorrows of work is the gap between what we hope to achieve and what we actually accomplish.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “To find meaning in work, we must accept its absurdity and still commit to doing it well.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “A good career is one where you feel you’re contributing to something larger than your own needs.” (The School of Life: An Emotional Education, 2019)
- “We envy others’ success because we forget the hidden struggles that accompany every achievement.” (Status Anxiety, 2004)
- “The modern world tells us to love our work, but it rarely tells us how to endure its inevitable frustrations.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “Work shapes our identity so deeply that we are often more forgiving of its flaws than we are of our own.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “The best work allows us to forget ourselves for a while and serve something beyond our ego.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2009)
- “Ambition is only noble when it serves a purpose we can believe in; otherwise, it’s just exhaustion.” (The School of Life: An Emotional Education, 2019)
- “The fantasy of a perfect job is as dangerous as the fantasy of a perfect partner.” (Post on X, @alaindebotton, 2020-04-18)
- “We work not just for money, but for dignity, structure, and a sense of belonging.” (The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, 2009)
- “To survive work, we must learn to be kind to ourselves when we fail and curious when we succeed.” (The School of Life: An Emotional Education, 2019)
Alain de Botton’s quotes on work are a compassionate and thought-provoking blend of realism and inspiration, encouraging readers to find purpose, embrace imperfection, and navigate the complexities of professional life. Which quote resonates with your work experience? Share it below and keep de Botton’s insightful philosophy thriving!
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