Walser on Boredom

People who get bored are ones who always reckon that something amusing ought to come at them from outside. Boredom is where bad moods are, and where people want things. Jacob Von Gunten, Robert Walser

Bolaño on Being Calm

But if it’s going to work out, it’s absolutely crucial that we stay calm. Calm is the one thing that will never let us down. And Amalfitano said: everything else lets us down? And the voice said: yes, that’s right, it’s hard o admit, I mean it’s hard to have to admit it to you, [...]

On Loving Life Before It’s Meaning

“I understand it all too well, Ivan: to want to love with your insides, your guts – you said it beautifully, and I’m terribly glad that you want so much to live,” Alyosha exclaimed.  ”I think that everyone should love life before everything else in the world.” “Love life more than its meaning?” “Certainly, love [...]