Zone of Silence

From Sertillanges, The Intellectual Life, preface:

Do you want to do intellectual work? Begin by creating within you a zone of silence, a habit of recollection, a will to renunciation and detachment which puts you entirely at the disposal of the 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.

The book is based on Aquinas' Sixteen Precepts for Study

I think it was Michele who first mentioned the book. I've had it on my wish list a long time, and finally got it this summer. So glad I did, even just reading the preface.