A. G. Sertillanges: The Intellectual Life
Sertillanges, A.G. The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods (Washington DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1987)
Sertillanges touts Thomas Aquinas' "Sixteen Precepts for Acquiring the Treasure of Knowledge" which as "priceless" in his Foreword (p. xxix), to The Intellectual Life, but I found Aquinas' suggestions to be rather trite. Aside from that, this book's advice--though occasionally dated--is invaluable for anyone with a scholarly bent. Sertillanges discusses organizing one's life to do intellectual work, avoiding distractions, reading, note-taking, and writing. There is a smattering of useless god-talk (such as "Intelligence only plays its part fully when it fulfills a religious function" from p. 30) but it is easily ignored as non-essential.
I took inspiration from some passages:
The true intellectual is by definition a man who perseveres. He takes on himself the task of learning and teaching; he loves truth with his whole being; he is consecrated to his work; he does not give it up prematurely. [...] The man of character who has worked unfailingly throughout a long life can go down like the sun into a quiet and splendid death; his work follows him, and at the same time remains to us. (p. 226)You must write throughout the whole of your intellectual life. [...] When you write, you must publish, as soon as good judges think you capable of it and you yourself feel some aptitude for that flight. (pp. 199-200)
and a gentle rebuke from others:
The passion for reading which many pride themselves on as a precious intellectual quality, is in reality a defect; it differs in no wise from the other passions that monopolize the soul, keep it in a state of disturbance, set up in it uncertain currents and cross-currents, and exhaust its powers. We must read intelligently, not passionately. (pp. 146-7)
Particularly for those readers with a taste of the aphoristic, Sertillanges has penned a minor masterpiece. If you do scholarly work, do yourself a favor by reading The Intellectual Life; it may help you in ways you can scarcely image. Here are my Quotes of the Day:
Do you want to do intellectual work? Begin by creating within you a zone of silence, a habit of recollection, a will of renunciation and detachment which puts you entirely at the disposal of work; acquire that state of soul unburdened by desire and self-will which is the state of grace of the intellectual worker. Without that you will do nothing, at least nothing worth while. (p. xviii, Preface)If you are compelled to earn your living, at least you will earn it without sacrificing, as so many do, the liberty of your soul. (p. 11)