Of course, true love is exceptional - two or three times a century, more or less. The rest of the time there is vanity or boredom.
Interpretation
True love is rare and seldom encountered, with most relationships lacking depth.
In this quote, Albert Camus reflects on the rarity of true love, suggesting that it occurs only a few times in a century. He posits that much of what we perceive as love is actually driven by superficial desires such as vanity or is simply a routine that leads to boredom, contrasting the extraordinary nature of genuine emotional connections.
In practice
Use this quote during a romantic dinner to provoke deep conversation about the nature of love.
The Poor Man whom everyone speaks of, the Poor Man whom everyone pities, one of the repulsive Poor from whom charitable souls keep their distance, he has still said nothing. Or, rather, he has spoken through the voice of Victor Hugo, Zola, Richepin. At least, they said so. And these shameful impostures fed their authors. Cruel irony, the Poor Man tormented with hunger feeds those who plead his case.
The certainty of a God giving meaning to life far surpasses in attractiveness the ability to behave badly with impunity. The choice would not be hard to make. But there is no choice and that is where the bitterness comes in. The absurd does not liberate; it binds.
Between history and the eternal I have chosen history because I like certainties. Of it, at least, I am certain, and how can I deny this force crushing me.
Don't wait for the last judgment - it takes place every day.
A single sentence will suffice for modern man. He fornicated and read the papers. After that vigorous definition, the subject will be, if I may say so, exhausted.
At times I feel myself overtaken by an immense tenderness for these people around me who live in the same century.
Married love between man and woman is bigger than oaths guarded by right of nature.
Keep your heart open for as long as you can, as wide as you can, for others and especially for yourself.
Worship is love on its knees before the beloved; just as mission is love on its feet to serve the beloved
As far as love is concerned, possession, power, fusion and disenchantment are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
I do not love thee, Sabidius, nor can I say why; I can only say this, "I do not love thee."
I kissed her, a long hard kiss. Because baby didn't know it, but baby was dead, and in a way I couldn't have loved her more.
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