We always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love - first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage.
Interpretation
We often misinterpret our feelings for loved ones, initially seeing them positively and later negatively.
This quote by Albert Camus highlights the complexities of love and self-deception in relationships. It suggests that when we love someone, we tend to overlook their flaws and idealize them, but over time, our perceptions can shift, leading us to see those same traits as disadvantages. This duality reflects the often tumultuous nature of love, where our perceptions are influenced by our emotions and expectations.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the illusions of love during a relationship counseling session.
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.
Most humbling of all is to comprehend the lifesaving gift that your pit crew of people has been for you, and all the experiences you have shared, the journeys together, the collaborations, births and deaths, divorces, rehab, and vacations, the solidarity you have shown one another. Every so often you realize that without all of them, your life would be barren and pathetic. It would be Death of a Salesman, though with e-mail and texting.
Every human walks around with a certain kind of sadness. They may not wear it on their sleeves, but it's there if you look deep.
But why should you be interested in me?" Good question. I canβt explain it myself right this moment. But maybe β just maybe β if we start getting together and talking, after a while something like Francis Laiβs soundtrack music will start playing in the background, and a whole slew of concrete reasons why Iβm interested in you will line up out of nowhere. With luck, it might even snow for us.
You mustnt give your heart to a wild thing. The more you do, the stronger they get.
In that shrinking moment he discovered that he had never hated anyone until now. It was a feeling as pure as love, but dispassionate and icily rational.
Whites know never tell blacks what you really think and what you really feel because you risk being seen as a racist. And the result of that is that to a degree, we as blacks live in a bubble. Nobody tells us the truth. Nobody tells us what they would do if they were in our situation. Nobody really helps us.
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