"The first thing to realize--though it is difficult in a commercial age--IS THAT WHAT IS BEST IN CREATIVE MENTAL ACTIVITY CANNOT BE PRODUCED BY ANY SYSTEM OF MONETARY REWARDS. Opportunity and the stimulus of an invigorating spiritual atmosphere are important, but, if they are presented, no financial inducements will be required, while if they are absent, material compensations will be of no avail. Recognition, even if it takes the form of money, can bring a certain pleasure in old age to the man of science who has battled all his life against academic prejudice, or to the artist who has endured years of ridicule for not painting in the manner of his predecessors; but it is not by the remote hope of such pleasures that their work has been inspired. All the most important work springs from an uncalculating impulse, and is best promoted, not by rewards after the event, but by circumstances which keep the impulse alive and afford scope for the activities which it inspires. In the creation of such circumstances, our present system is much at fault." -- Proposed Roads to Freedom by Bertrand Russell [Cap lock emphasis mine]
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 15:55:38 +0000
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