Construction and destruction alike satisfy the will to power, but construction is more difficult as a rule, and therefore gives more satisfaction to the person who can achieve it. … We construct when we increase the potential energy of the system in which we are interested, and we destroy when we diminish the potential energy. … Whatever may be thought of these definitions, we all know in practice whether an activity is to be regarded as constructive or destructive, except in a few cases where a man professes to be destroying with a view to rebuilding and are not sure whether he is sincere. – Bertrand Russell
…one of my favorite thinkers and creators (read, for example, Russell’s thoughts on persecution mania, on the career treadmill, on competition, and on envy.
Hat tip to BrainPickings.