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The Master of Living

by Jenny • October 6th, 2009

The Master of Living

The master in the art of living
draws no sharp distinction between
his work and his play,
his labor and his leisure,
his mind and his body,
his information and his recreation,
his love and his religion.
He hardly knows which is which.

He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does,
leaving others to determine whether he is working or playing.
To him, he is always doing both.

—James A. Michener

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20 comments

Categories: Happiness, Quotes

http://positivelypresent.com/ Positively Present

Ooh, I like that a lot. Thanks for sharing it, Jenny!
http://positivelypresent.com Positively Present

Ooh, I like that a lot. Thanks for sharing it, Jenny!
http://doniree.com/ Doniree

This is SO awesome. I’ve been reading the works of the Lao Tzu (I think I said that right?) lately and it’s all about oneness and how lines between opposites are blurred until they don’t exist. I LOVE this.
http://doniree.com Doniree

This is SO awesome. I’ve been reading the works of the Lao Tzu (I think I said that right?) lately and it’s all about oneness and how lines between opposites are blurred until they don’t exist. I LOVE this.
http://koda.us/ Tara

James A. Michener was a great novelist and had a pretty smart and successful life. A great man to take advice from.
http://koda.us Tara

James A. Michener was a great novelist and had a pretty smart and successful life. A great man to take advice from.
http://www.opheliaswebb.com/ Elisa

I really want to leave a well thought out and mind-provoking comment. But it’s 1:13 AM EST and I need to go to bed. So instead I’ll just leave the general populus with with idea that THIS is how we should live our lives.

Sure, it’s much easier said than done…but if it IS in fact done (and done right) I feel like life is going to be a heck of a lot better for most of us!
http://www.opheliaswebb.com Elisa

I really want to leave a well thought out and mind-provoking comment. But it’s 1:13 AM EST and I need to go to bed. So instead I’ll just leave the general populus with with idea that THIS is how we should live our lives.

Sure, it’s much easier said than done…but if it IS in fact done (and done right) I feel like life is going to be a heck of a lot better for most of us!
http://www.budgetsaresexy.com/ J. Money

For a second I thought YOU wrote that under the pen name of James A. Michener! Haha…Then commenter Tara proved that wrong (shows you what I know about novelists). Either way, I’m pretending it was still your words as it totally reminds me of ya
http://www.budgetsaresexy.com J. Money

For a second I thought YOU wrote that under the pen name of James A. Michener! Haha…Then commenter Tara proved that wrong (shows you what I know about novelists). Either way, I’m pretending it was still your words as it totally reminds me of ya
http://valeriemondesir.com/ Valerie M

I’d love to live like this… it’s my ultimate goal. Thanks for sharing this Jenny!
http://valeriemondesir.com/ Valerie M

I’d love to live like this… it’s my ultimate goal. Thanks for sharing this Jenny!
http://mindthebeginner.wordpress.com/ ChristiaanH

This one would perfectly fit in any book on Zen. Thanks for sharing, I’m going to print it and stick it in one of my Zen books, now to decide which one…
http://mindthebeginner.wordpress.com ChristiaanH

This one would perfectly fit in any book on Zen. Thanks for sharing, I’m going to print it and stick it in one of my Zen books, now to decide which one…
http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/ Jenny

I’m so glad you all enjoyed the quote/passage. This is one that really stuck with me for it’s elegance and simplicity…very zen/lao tzu indeed.

I’ve always thought that life is too short to DREAD going to work every day – or even go through each day half-asleep, just to get by. The whole idea of living for the weekends seems futile in the long-term – we should be taking small steps every toward living a happy and fulfilled life, even when “working.” Whew – end rant!

On that note, I hope you all have a wonderful day. As John Wooden’s father said, “make each day your masterpiece!”
http://www.lifeaftercollege.org Jenny

I’m so glad you all enjoyed the quote/passage. This is one that really stuck with me for it’s elegance and simplicity…very zen/lao tzu indeed.

I’ve always thought that life is too short to DREAD going to work every day – or even go through each day half-asleep, just to get by. The whole idea of living for the weekends seems futile in the long-term – we should be taking small steps every toward living a happy and fulfilled life, even when “working.” Whew – end rant!

On that note, I hope you all have a wonderful day. As John Wooden’s father said, “make each day your masterpiece!”
http://www.examiner.com/x-13207-Generation-Y-Examiner Sharalyn Hartwell

I absolutely loved that. Thank you so much for sharing!
http://www.examiner.com/x-13207-Generation-Y-Examiner Sharalyn Hartwell

I absolutely loved that. Thank you so much for sharing!
David

Hi. Just noticed your quote when I was researching who wrote it. Many sources quote Francois Auguste Rene Chateaubriand – and wondered if you fond the exact source – like a book or speach?

Thanks and have a great day

http://www.lifeaftercollege.org jennyblake

Hi David – funny enough, my copy editor just found that quote (to confirm) in Britannica.com. His full name is François-Auguste-René, vicomte de Chateaubriand

Have a great week!
Jenny