Without delight, living is a worthless act. To labour at living and be unpaid is worse than to be dead.
 Jack London, The Sea-Wolf (1904). copy citation

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Author Jack London
Source The Sea-Wolf
Topic labour delight
Date 1904
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1074/1074-h/1074-h.htm

Context

“They’re wrong, all wrong, of course, and contrary to reason; but in the face of them my reason tells me, wrong and most wrong, that to dream and live illusions gives greater delight. And after all, delight is the wage for living. Without delight, living is a worthless act. To labour at living and be unpaid is worse than to be dead. He who delights the most lives the most, and your dreams and unrealities are less disturbing to you and more gratifying than are my facts to me.” He shook his head slowly, pondering. “I often doubt, I often doubt, the worthwhileness of reason.” source