Socrates: The Barrenness of a Busy Life
To apply his wisdom, start with a “time audit.” Track your activities for a week to understand where your time truly goes
Busyness is nothing new under the sun. It goes way back in time. Two millennia ago, the ancient philosopher Socrates warned us to question the purpose of our constant activity. He thought the potential hollowness it might conceal was too significant to ignore. “Beware the barrenness of a busy life,” he said. It still makes sense even now. He also said, “It is possible that a man could live twice as long if he didn’t spend the first half of his life acquiring habits that shortens the other half.”
But to understand Socrates’ perspective, let’s look back to the bustling marketplace of ancient Athens. It was a vibrant hub of commerce, politics, and philosophy. It thrived on social gatherings, debates, and public events. Socrates saw many citizens consumed by the pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasure, neglecting the true purpose of life — the pursuit of wisdom and self-knowledge to live well. He thought they were cultivating a barren orchard in their relentless busyness.
“I have not sought during my life to amass wealth and to adorn my body, but I have sought to adorn my…
