Quote by Alain de Botton: “To be a human being means to feel an urgent need for improvement.”

This quote suggests that an innate drive for self-betterment is a fundamental aspect of human nature. It means that a desire to grow, learn, and overcome personal shortcomings is not merely optional, but a core characteristic that defines our experience as individuals striving for progress.

Co-authored with John Armstrong, this book explored how art can serve therapeutic functions, offering solace and guidance for self-understanding and emotional growth in an era grappling with mental well-being.

Swiss-British author and philosopher who writes accessibly about how philosophy, art, and architecture bear on everyday emotional life. His books include The Consolations of Philosophy and Status Anxiety, and he co-founded The School of Life in 2008.