Thus spoke… Camus
by westwood.
I have a bit of a fetish for Albert Camus. Well, not technically a fetish, as I was today admonished in my sig-other-thing’s Abnormal Psychology class (“Are you really addicted to chocolate? Have you spent thousands of dollars on chocolate? Do you forgo sex for chocolate?” the prof thundered, and I heartily agreed with his specific use of language, and then craved chocolate). But the point is, I really, really, really like Camus. Worth a read is The Plague, and if you are short on time, I highly recommend l’Etranger (just over the half the book at this link), which is absolutely devourable. So for today’s quote I give you a philosopher who actually qualifies as sexy:
“If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.”
- Albert Camus
What do you think he means to say by this? What does it mean to you? Do you live your life in this way?
If you want to know how the academics think he (probably) meant it, and what he was (probably) talking about, feel free to ask and I’ll tell you in the comments. I just don’t want to be a spoilsport, obvs.
Filed under: existentialism, quotes | 11 Comments
Tags: albert camus, existentialism, french, l'etranger, life, musings, philosopher, questions, quote, religion, the plague, the stranger
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Recent Comments
I am pretty sure it already got spoiled by what’s his name Who. HE spoiled the party. I’ll answer the last one, you’re fixing not spoiling cause I am asking you to answer the first two
you know I do. I just won’t admit it which translate to I get a little grumpy when someone can see that about me and temper tantrummy when they call me on it.
the way you parallel it here with these words, for some reason I can type without having to snap. Had I knot already snapped this morning though, I have days when it doesn’t matter how you type it I will snap (tempertrantum) on bad days if I see the word “the” typed I snap cause I am being completely irrational and unfair saying “they were gonna type that”
days some where in the middle are few and far between, I’m usually at one end or the other.
It’s interesting because I have quoted Camus many times, but never actually read his work. I guess I figured it was probably over my head. This particularly quote is just extraordinary. I can see myself in it a lot. And little by little, I’m doing better at just living this life. Thanks Westwood, and I will follow the link and read more.
That’s really great to hear! Don’t worry, he won’t be over your head. He’s quite enjoyable to read, actually. He is one of the rare philosophical writers who actually knows how to write, and uses fictional allegory. As a result, he can be read for entertainment, a deeper meaning, or a combination of th etwo. It’s really up to the will of the reader, and he isn’t all that difficult to decipher. And he’s wonderful.
If you end up liking l’Etranger (which I found rivetting, but depressing), it’s worth checking out a modern existentialist novel: Blindness by Jose Saramago. A movie based on it came out recently which I haven’t yet seen, but am told is quite good!
Saw the movie Blindness. It’s OK, but it doesn’t have quite the same effect that the novel has. A lot of the punched-in-the-gut feeling is missing. And, oddly, I would have guessed Blindness would go better with The Plague?
Definitely! Blindness = The Plague in many respects. Except it is more fun to read.
Hey guys, I wish I wasn’t such a big baby sometimes. I really could use your help by speaking up when I do stupid things. Originally it was frustration cause I assumed everything that was a little odd that happened to me had to be a very close friend (I am sorta of a private person and in the past didn’t divulge info about myself.
I was super-sensitive as it felt like betrayal when then honest observation. Many things that are not obvious to me as easily spotted by persons other than myself.
Thank you friends, just friends, every one of you.
Tried to click the link l’Etranger (pdf) but found …a gaping whole; it went nowhere. I was expecting some meaning, some alternative to the present moment.
Why is it there and where is it going? I feel kind of dizzy.
[A Smiley; still cannot do html code]
Best of worlds
Exuvia
Disaster! I shall investigate. It is rather difficult to find publicly linked to pirated copies of things.
Camus, a digital hostage, held against his knowledge. They hide him to release him against payment from an interested party.
I thought copy rights were out of effect after 50 years. The particular work was published 1942 if I am not mistaken.
you guys do realize that some of Cumas’s stuff was sarcastic. I mean i thought that when he was being sarcastic (really saw things or believed the opposite of what story he was portraying) because things DO matter! Things change, and there is a difference (sometimes huge) between choices. The difference is often night and day (heaven and help)
Sort of like a difference of exposure. The way a camera’s film exposes the negative in order to get a color clone of that image developed.
here’s a avatar for you to reflect on westwood, phototron snaps is the blog name.
photoron.wordpress.com
the profile image seems relevant to your cause friend