I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move

Robert Louis Stevenson, the renowned Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, once famously said, “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.” This quote encapsulates Stevenson's deep love for exploration, adventure, and the sheer joy of moving from one place to another.

Stevenson was a man who was constantly on the move, seeking new experiences and inspiration for his writing. His most famous work, "Treasure Island," was inspired by his travels in the South Pacific, where he encountered pirates, buried treasure, and exotic landscapes. Stevenson's wanderlust and thirst for adventure are evident in his many travel writings, where he vividly describes the people, places, and cultures he encountered on his journeys.

For Stevenson, travel was not just about reaching a destination or ticking off items on a bucket list. It was about the journey itself, the act of moving through the world and experiencing all that it had to offer. He believed that travel was a way to expand one's horizons, to learn about different cultures and ways of life, and to gain a deeper understanding of the world.

Stevenson's love for travel was also rooted in his belief that movement was essential for personal growth and self-discovery. He saw travel as a way to break free from the constraints of everyday life, to challenge oneself, and to push beyond one's comfort zone. In his essay "Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes," Stevenson writes about his solo journey through the mountains of France with only a donkey for company. The physical challenges of the journey forced Stevenson to confront his fears and limitations, and ultimately led to a greater sense of self-awareness and inner strength.