on Work and Action
Seventh-century Chinese Chan Bhuddist master Hongren advised: “Work, work!…Work! Don’t waste a moment…Calm yourself, quiet yourself, master your senses. Work, work! Just dress in old clothes, eat simple food…feign ignorance, appear inarticulate. This is most economical with energy, yet effective.”
“All that is really worthwhile is action,” Teilhard wrote. “Personal success or personal satisfaction are not worth another thought.”
Annie Dillard
from: For The Time Being
Entry Filed under: Dillard, Annie • Snippets • Writers on Writing
1 Comment Add your own
1. Gardner | July 30th, 2007 at 11:03 am
This is probably correct.
Corollary: G. M. Hopkins said that if one wants to believe more strongly, “give alms.”
There’s a GREAT bit at the end of “Polysyllabic Spree” (Nick Hornby) where he quotes a letter by Chekhov admonishing a younger writer in much these same terms.
I sense an impressive unanimity of opinion, rare for thinkers.
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