"Don't tire yourself more than need be, even at the price of founding a culture on the fatigue of your bones"

Antonin Artaud's quote, "Don't tire yourself more than need be, even at the rate of founding a culture on the fatigue of your bones," speaks deeply to the human condition and the pursuit of accomplishment. Artaud alerts against the excessive effort of oneself in the pursuit of goals, even if those goals are as grand as establishing a culture. The expression "tire yourself more than need be" suggests the value of recognizing one's limitations and stabilizing aspiration with self-care. It suggests a require mindfulness about how we disperse our energy and efforts in life.

The concept of founding a culture on the "tiredness of your bones" brings a plain image of overexertion, where physical and psychological depletion become the foundations of social progress. Artaud appears to challenge the frequently glorified narrative of sacrifice for success, advising a reconsideration of just how much we are willing to compromise for the sake of cultural or professional accomplishments. This can be analyzed as a critique of modern-day society's glorification of hustle culture and relentless efficiency, which often comes at the cost of personal well-being.

By highlighting the expression "even at the rate," Artaud acknowledges that there might be a viewed nobility or necessity in exhausting oneself for a greater cause. Nevertheless, he questions whether such sacrifices are really essential or useful in the long run. The quote invites reflection on the sustainability of our individual and cultural ambitions. It prompts people to assess just how much they want to deplete themselves for ideals that may be pursued more sustainably.

Ultimately, Artaud is advocating for a more harmonious presence, one where personal health and limitations are appreciated, and the pursuit of cultural or personal turning points does not come at the expense of one's own well-being. The principle he highlights is that the supreme cost of overreach may not be worth the accomplishments if it leads to the fatigue of our really essence.