Hunger and God have been replaced in the consumer age by possessions and status.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.381
The advertising industry leads us to believe that life will be improved by the purchase of a product. The purchase of a product requires money. Money requires hard work. Or debt.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.382
It is to be regretted that a portion of our community should be practically in slavery, but to propose to solve the problem by enslaving the entire community is childish.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.388
We need to be responsible for ourselves; we must create our own republics. Today we hand over our responsibility to the boss, to the company, to government, and then blame them when everything goes wrong.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.390
Much as I like reasonable persons, I hate completely rational beings.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.1839
Freedom would bring responsibility.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.1903
The aim of the interior, to my mind, should be to help us escape from the world outside, not to bring it into our own homes
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.2041
“Don’t talk about it—do it!” is the modern mantra. To which I reply, don’t do it, talk about it. If the thing talked about is worth doing, then it will get done in its own time.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.2803
Music can change our mood from misery to joy in a matter of seconds. It can send us into a trance for hours. It can help the body perform feats of physical dexterity unimaginable without
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.2862
We create sets of behavioural rules for ourselves and then feel bad when we fail to live up to them.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.2984
The art of living is the art of bringing dreams and reality together.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.3446
Maybe this is why so many poets and visionaries die young or drink heavily—it is painful when you can see the truth up close. It can be unbearable.
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.3511
for whoever gives his labour for money sells himself and puts himself in the rank of slaves
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.3528
“It has always seemed to me slightly bizarre that we should queue up to sell our time to someone else. It’s a form of slavery, voluntary slavery. We think it’s great but it’s crazy.”
Tom Hodgkinson, How to Be Idle: A Loafer’s Manifesto, Loc.3529