At any street corner the feeling of absurdity can strike any man in the face.
Interpretation
The quote illustrates the unexpected and often overwhelming nature of existential feelings in everyday life.
Albert Camus speaks to the sudden realization of life's absurdity that can be encountered anywhere, emphasizing that such profound moments can interrupt the mundane experiences of everyday existence. These feelings provoke introspection and highlight the disconnection between human desires for meaning and the indifferent universe, suggesting that such absurd encounters are inherent to the human condition.
In practice
In a philosophical discussion about the nature of existence at a cafΓ©.
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.
There is the fear that we shan't prove worthy in the eyes of someone who knows us at least as well as we know ourselves. That is the fear of God. And there is the fear of Man -fear that men won't understand us and we shall be cut of from them.
Violence can succeed, as Americans know well from the conquest of the national territory. But at terrible cost. It can also provoke violence in response, and often does.
I don't know what happens when people die_x000D_ _x000D_ Can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try_x000D_ _x000D_ It's like a song I can hear playing right in my ear_x000D_ _x000D_ That I can't sing_x000D_ _x000D_ I can't help listening
A society that is not willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody elseβs life is simply immoral.
Terrorism is a persistent and evolving global menace. No country is immune.
Most of the great results of history are brought about by discreditable means.
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