The pseudo-worker looks and feels like someone who is working hard — he or she spends a long time in the library and is not afraid to push on late in… - Cal Newport

Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.

when you avoid solitude, you miss out on the positive things it brings you: the ability to clarify hard problems, to regulate your emotions, to build moral courage, and to strengthen relationships.

the bimodal philosophy of deep work. This philosophy asks that you divide your time, dedicating some clearly defined stretches to deep pursuits and leaving the rest open to everything else. During the deep time, the bimodal worker will act monastically — seeking intense and uninterrupted concentration. During the shallow time, such focus is not prioritized.