In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays

Russell, Bertrand. In Praise of Idleness. London: Routledge, 2001.

In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays by Bertrand Russell

All this is only preliminary. I want to say, in all seriousness, that a great deal of harm is being done in the modern world by the belief in the virtuousness of work, and that the road to happiness and prosperity lies in an organized diminution of work.

The wise use of leisure, it must be conceded, is a product of civilization and education. A man who has worked long hours all his life will be bored if he becomes suddenly idle. But without a considerable amount of leisure a man is cut off from many of the best things. There is no longer any reason why the bulk of the population should suffer this

comme le dit Bertrand Russell dans Éloge de l’oisiveté ? Le grand défi de la révolution industrielle a été de transformer une population d’esprits indépendants, têtus, rebelles, grands buveurs, fêtards, amoureux de la vie, en des travailleurs de force dociles, disciplinés et reconnaissants.