Nobody reads the disclosures that roll down your computer screen. You click 'I agree' but you don't know what you're agreeing to.
Writing is sacred, other activities are profane, and I don't want them to corrupt my writing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The act of writing is regarded as a holy endeavor that should remain pure from distractions and negative influences.
In this quote, Nassim Nicholas Taleb expresses the notion that writing is a revered and sacred activity, one that requires focus and dedication. He believes that engaging in other, mundane or trivial activities can dilute the purity and integrity of the writing process, thereby corrupting the essence of the art form. By emphasizing the sanctity of writing, Taleb suggests that writers should guard their creative energy against distractions that might detract from their work.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a creative writing workshop, this quote can inspire participants to prioritize their writing time and avoid distractions.
More from Nassim Nicholas Taleb
All quotes βFragility is the quality of things that are vulnerable to volatility.
Those who were unlucky in life in spite of their skills would eventually rise. The lucky fool might have benefited from some luck in life; over the longer run he would slowly converge to the state of a less-lucky idiot. Each one would revert to his long-term properties.
Individuals should think about the worst-case scenarios and plan for them. The world will be crazier than you think it will be. Put money away, and then you can live with much more freedom.
A good maxim allows you to have the last word without even starting a conversation.
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