“…prime it with a little solitude and idleness” (Great Work quote)
“I learned … that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into you slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.”
~ Brenda Ueland, journalist
It’s so hard to find a little solitude and idleness. When I do create that for myself, I spend the first part of it ranting and raging and feeling confused and irresponsible and unsure just what the hell I’m doing here.
And I know for certain that inspiration doesn’t strike when I’m buried deep in the hard churn of Good Work, when I’m focused on productivity and efficiency and making sure I’m Getting Stuff Done.
It’s strange to think that one of the ways to find inspiration is to step into the insolent uncertainly of solitude and idleness, but I think it’s true.
And I suspect it won’t happen, at least not often, by chance.
You have to go and find it.
How will you find – then hold and protect – the space of idleness? The place for inspiration?
- “If you can’t stand solitude, perhaps others find you boring as well” (Great Work quote)
- “I don’t think necessity is the mother of invention…” (Great Work quotes)
- “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us…” (Great Work quote)
- “Wanting it is easy, but trying to be great – well, that’s torturous” (Great Work quote)
- “If you knew how much work went into it…” (Great Work quote)
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This is a wonderful quote – thanks for tweeting about it!! The space of idleness is very hard for me to make time for sometimes … at times life intrudes so much!!
~ Diane Clancy
http://dianeclancy.com/blog
This is a wonderful quote!! It is true is often hard for my to find time for idleness … so much work to do!! Yet life needs the space of allowing. Thank you!
~ Diane Clancy
http://dianeclancy.com/blog
Brenda Ueland’s words are timeless – thanks for reminding me of her. Only in idleness can we get quiet enough for grace and inspiration to flow through.