Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination: both depend on being outside rather than inside a situation, and one leads to the other.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
The man who suspects his own tediousness is yet to be born.
—Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836–1907) American Poet, Novelist, Traveler, Editor
Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful, or to discover something that is true.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
The most destructive criticism is indifference.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
If something is boring after 2 minutes, try it for 4. If still boring, try it for 8, 16, 32, and so on. Eventually, one discovers that it is not boring, but very interesting.
—Zen Proverb Japanese School of Mahayana Buddhism
Highly educated bores are by far the worst; they know so much, in such fiendish detail, to be boring about.
—Louis Kronenberger (1904–80) American Critic, Novelist, Biographer, Dramatist
A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
America is said to have the highest per capita boredom of any spot on earth! We know that because we have the greatest number of artificial amusements of any country.
People have become so empty that they can’t even entertain themselves. They have to pay other people to amuse them, to make them laugh, to try to make them feel warm and happy and comfortable for a few minutes, to try to lose that awful, frightening, hollow feeling–that terrible, dreaded feeling of being lost and alone.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
And ’tis remarkable that they talk most who have the least to say.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) English Novelist, Humorist, Writer
Each day provides its own gifts.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
A bore is a person who talks when you wish him to listen.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Editor, Journalist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
Boredom is useful to me when I notice it and think: Oh I’m bored; there must be something else I want to be doing … boredom acts as an initiator of originality by pushing me into new activities or new thoughts.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
No one really listens to anyone else, and if you try it for a while you’ll see why.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Nothing is interesting if you’re not interested.
—Helen MacInnes (1907–85) Scottish-born American Novelist
Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Unless a man has been taught what to do with success after getting it, the achievement of it must inevitably leave him a prey to boredom.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
It is necessary to work, if not from inclination, at least from despair. Everything considered, work is less boring than amusing oneself.
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–67) French Poet, Art Critic, Essayist, Translator
Boredom is the most horrible of wolves.
—Jean Giono (1895–1970) French Novelist, Short Story Writer, Pacifist
The devil’s name is dullness.
—Robert E. Lee (1807–70) Confederate General during American Civil War
One of the worst forms of mental suffering is boredom, not knowing what to do with oneself and one’s life. Even if man had no monetary, or any other reward, he would be eager to spend his energy in some meaningful way because he could not stand the boredom which inactivity produces.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
When I get real bored, I like to drive downtown and get a great parking spot, then sit in my car and count how many people ask me if I’m leaving.
—Steven Wright (b.1955) American Comedian, Actor, Writer
Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.
—Marilyn Monroe (1926–62) American Actor, Model, Singer
Boredom is the deadliest poison.
—William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925–2008) American TV Personality, Author
To do the same thing over and over again is not only boredom: it is to be controlled by rather than to control what you do.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Jump out the window if you are the object of passion. Flee it if you feel it. Passion goes, boredom remains.
—Coco Chanel (1883–1971) French Fashion Designer
It is the sin that believes in nothing,
cares for nothing,
seeks to know nothing,
interferes with nothing,
enjoys nothing,
hates nothing,
finds purpose in nothing,
lives for nothing,
and remains alive
because there is nothing for which it will die.
—Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) British Novelist, Playwright, Essayist, Translator, Poet
He is an old bore; even the grave yawns for him.
—Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852–1917) English Actor, Theater Personality
As for boredom … I notice that it leaves me as soon as I am doing something that has got to be done.
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933) American Biographer, Poet, Essayist, Writer
When people are bored, it is primarily with their own selves that they are bored.
—Jules Renard (1864–1910) French Novelist, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Writer
Grasp your opportunities, no matter how poor your health; nothing is worse for your health than boredom.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Only those who want everything done for them are bored.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
Probably the difference between man and the monkeys is that the monkeys are merely bored, while man has boredom plus imagination.
—Lin Yutang (1895–1976) Chinese Author, Philologist
Boredom is not an end-product, is comparatively rather an early stage in life and art. You’ve got to go by or past or through boredom, as through a filter, before the clear product emerges.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist