author
Elek Szitnyai
1854–1923
A Hungarian teacher and philosopher, he wrote in a clear, practical way about how people use—and waste—their mental energy. His work brings psychology and everyday discipline together in a thoughtful early-20th-century voice.
1 Audiobook
A szellemi erők gyüjtése és pazarlása
by Elek Szitnyai
About the author
Born in Berencsfalu on August 6, 1854, and later active in Budapest, Elek Szitnyai was a Hungarian secondary-school teacher and philosopher. Sources also note that he used the surname Szlamka until 1883.
He studied in Budapest, earned teaching qualifications, and taught at major gymnasiums in Selmecbánya, Nagybánya, and later Budapest. Biographical references describe him not only as a teacher of philosophy and related subjects, but also as secretary of the Hungarian Philosophical Society.
He is remembered as the author of A szellemi erők gyüjtése és pazarlása (“The Gathering and Waste of Mental Forces”), a work that reflects his interest in psychology, intellect, and disciplined thinking. Even in brief reference entries, he comes across as a writer who tried to connect philosophical ideas with practical mental life.