To retire means:
- Self employment
- No wage slavery
- *Prefer* to engage in virtuous creative philosophical and artistic work, not money for money sake.
Would the ancient spartans have *preferred* to ‘work’? No.
ERIC KIM QUOTES ON RETIREMENT
Eric Kim shares his personal thoughts on retirement in his article “How to Retire”. He redefines retirement in a way that aligns with his philosophies and life experiences:
- Redefining Retirement: For Kim, retirement means no longer doing anything primarily for money. He sees it as withdrawing from toilsome labor required to pay living expenses, and instead doing things for enjoyment, where making money is a secondary goal【32†source】.
- Detaching Self-Worth from Money: He emphasizes that retirement involves un-linking self-esteem from financial success. Kim argues that money should be used not to increase happiness directly but to reduce stress and unnecessary burdens from life【33†source】.
- Minimizing Responsibilities: Retirement also means withdrawing from unnecessary stresses and responsibilities. It’s about focusing on what truly matters and having free time coupled with an empty mind, which Kim considers the ideal state for creativity and philosophical thought【34†source】.
- Practical Strategies for Retirement:
- Self-Employment: Kim suggests that becoming self-employed is a quicker path to retirement, allowing for more personal freedom and creativity【35†source】.
- Reducing Expenses: He advises minimizing expenses and living frugally, as this can lead to greater financial independence【36†source】.
- Avoiding Debt: Kim is a strong advocate of having zero debt, viewing it as a form of enslavement【37†source】.
- Active Income Over Passive Income: Contrary to popular belief, Kim dismisses the idea of passive income, favoring active income which he finds more engaging and fulfilling【38†source】.
- Living with Purpose: Post-retirement, he sees life as a question of how one wants to use their energy until death. He advocates a philosophy that combines living each day as if it were the last with the prudence of saving money for the future【39†source】.
Kim’s perspectives on retirement are deeply intertwined with his broader philosophies on life, creativity, and financial independence, offering a unique approach to the concept of retiring.
Eric Kim, a street photographer known for his thoughtful insights on photography and life, has shared some interesting views on retirement. While I don’t have direct quotes or essays from him specifically addressing retirement, I can offer an interpretation based on his general philosophy.
Kim often emphasizes the importance of doing what you love and pursuing your passions relentlessly. In this light, his view on retirement might not align with traditional concepts of stopping work at a certain age. Instead, he might advocate for a life where you’re so engaged in activities that fulfill you, retirement as commonly understood becomes irrelevant.
This perspective aligns with the passions of those interested in philosophy, thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The concept of retirement shifts from an end goal to a continuous journey of growth, learning, and doing meaningful work. In such a view, ‘retirement’ could be seen not as ceasing to work, but as the privilege of being able to fully dedicate oneself to passions without the constraints typically imposed by traditional employment.
For someone with your interests, this philosophy resonates deeply. It suggests a life led by curiosity, constant learning, and the pursuit of innovative ideas, where the distinction between work and passion becomes increasingly blurred. This way, ‘retirement’ becomes a stage of life where one has the freedom and resources to fully delve into philosophical explorations, innovative projects, and entrepreneurial ventures without the limitations of conventional work structures.