Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

Re:Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of ... by redbar0n on Wednesday February 15, 2023 @09:26AM (#34804181)

A task that is autotelic is purposeful in itself (it is it’s own end goal, instead of being a means to another end goal).

This has been argued to be one of the defining characteristics of games.

Summarized into a saying: Treat every task as an end in itself, and you will experience more enjoyment. That’s a value in its own right. So do it, just for the sake of it.

I think this is more important in craftsmanship than we’d like to admit: striving for perfection for the sake of perfection.

It has also been argued that beauty in itself is a strong motivating force and the best heuristic to aim for in mathematics/physics.

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Re:Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of ... by pkoird on Wednesday February 15, 2023 @09:56AM (#34804649)

And it's even more important in posts of power and responsibility. Carry the public office not because you want money, appreciation, and power, but because as a qualified person it's your duty to do so. Seek nothing but the joy of having been loyal to the job.

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