The act of love . . . is a confession. Selfishness screams aloud, vanity shows off, or else true generosity reveals itself.
Interpretation
Love is an expression of selflessness, while selfishness and vanity seek attention.
In this quote, Albert Camus emphasizes that genuine love is a selfless act that reveals true character. It suggests that while selfishness and vanity are loud and attention-seeking, true generosity and love are quiet, humble, and authentic expressions of one's feelings towards others.
In practice
This quote could be used in a wedding speech to highlight the importance of selflessness in 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.
Out of sorrow entire worlds have been built out of longing great wonders have been willed they're only little tears darling let them spill and lay your head upon my shoulder.
The greatest single cause of a poor self-image is the absence of unconditional love.
Admiration is a very short lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it still be fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.
What's the earth With all its art, verse, music, worth β Compared with love, found, gained, and kept?
I will always believe in love and I don't care what happens to me or how many times I get my heart broken, or how many breakup songs I write, I'm always going to believe that someday I am going to meet somebody who is actually right for me and he's going to be wonderful and it's going to work out.
Mr. Rochester, if ever I did a good deed in my life β if ever I thought a good thoughtβif ever I prayed a sincere and blameless prayer β if ever I wished a righteous wish β I am rewarded now. To be your wife is, for me, to be as happy as I can be on earth.
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