I have seen a phrase thrown around here that 'abstinence drives creativity'

Pretty much anything written by a monk/pious.

Intellectualism and creativity is generally a beta trait - majority of geniuses being"low status" and not interested in actionable power status suitable natural/sexual selection. Never the less, intellectual output of such outliers benefits all of the kin because its horizontally transferrable, near instantly to whole tribe/species. So it exists as a background evolutionary mechanism, but not much widespread trait. Having too many intellectuals would endanger fitness.

Some speculate this is how language and intellect has evolved beyond basic bitch zero-sum scheming.

Balzac would masturbate right up to the edge of orgasm and then drink a shitload of coffee and start writing. Sexual drive can definitely be used as an engine for creative endeavors.

It's a meme some (probably /pol/tards) sincerely believe in. That said, I do believe it does contain the grain of truth, namely that many of these people probably spend a lot of their time browsing porn. When they cease to masturbate two hours per session twice a day, they suddenly free up 28 hours a week for something productive. The real problem here is their masturbation habits though, not the act itself.

sauce

Depends on your definition of what constitutes a masterpiece but google turns up Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, George Bernhard Shaw and Henry James (who apparently had an accident). Honorable mention: W.B. Yeats, who remained celibate into his thirties. Outside of literature we have people like Immanuel Kant, Nikola Tesla and Isaac Newton.

For various circumstances, I've been voluntarily celibate for around this past year. Thankfully its almost over (only have a month left). Last year I indulged in sex often, and I didn't really produce anything very good. This year, the motivation to write and create has been huge. In large part, its to escape the pain of not being allowed to consummate relationships with girls I feel attracted to. Instead I have focused my energy into my work, and it has reached the point where I don't even care about having sex sometimes. Now when I am really absorbed in my work, the only thing I really want is to make good progress on it. Sex sometimes completely leaves my mind for long stretches of the day.

But honestly, unless if you had to I wouldn't recommend celibacy. There are good reasons to do it, but you have to understand what you are in for. The pain however is where a lot of the value comes from.

Really any strong desire or emotional state tends to be construed as inspiring.

I don't know about complete abstinence, but sex and relationships can definitely be a distraction. It seems Pynchon didn't get married until he was in his 50s and wrote Gravity's Rainbow living in a tiny apartment with nothing but a cot, a bookshelf, and a writing desk. You couldn't do that if you had a wife or girlfriend pestering you and wanting to do normie shit.

slate.com/culture/2013/04/balzac-and-sex-how-the-french-novelist-used-masturbation-to-fuel-his-writing-process.html

you can find some sources in that article

It depends on the person.

Some people are more creative when they abstain (from sex, drugs, what have you - generally removing yourself from indulgence and acting semi-ascetic); and some people are more creative when they indulge as much as possible (the "alcoholic genius" archetype).

just a meme
what actually drives creativity is the feeling of joy or relief after a bout of depression or sadness.

>le pynchmeister xd
fuck off boomer

Its called sublimation you plebe

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublimation_(psychology)

all suffering descends from desire.
Its pain which creates meaning, why we do anything