Life ceases to be so oppressive: we are free to give our own lives meaning and purpose, free to redeem our suffering by making something of it.
Walter KaufmannRead
It does not follow that the meaning must be given from above; that life and suffering must come neatly labeled; that nothing is worth while if the world is not governed by a purpose.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life's meaning is not predetermined and often must be defined by individuals rather than by external designations.
This quote emphasizes the idea that individuals should not rely on external sources to dictate the meaning of their lives or their suffering. Instead, it suggests that life is intrinsic, complex, and often lacks a clear purpose; thus, each person must find their own significance and navigate the challenges of existence without expecting neatly packaged answers from the world.
Themes
LifeMeaningPurposeSufferingPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech to inspire students to find their own path in life.
More from Walter Kaufmann
All quotes βThe only theism worthy of our respect believes in God not because of the way the world is made but in spite of that. The only theism that is no less profound than the Buddha's atheism is that represented in the Bible by Job and Jeremiah.
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Success is no proof of virtue. In the case of a book, quick acclaim is presumptive evidence of a lack of substance and originality.
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Man stands alone in the universe, responsible for his condition, likely to remain in a lowly state, but free to reach above the stars.
Walter KaufmannRead
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