A craving for freedom and independence is generated only in a man still living on hope.
Interpretation
True freedom is often born from a desire for change fueled by hope.
This quote by Albert Camus suggests that the yearning for freedom and independence arises from an inherent hope within individuals. It implies that those who still cling to hope are often in search of liberation from their circumstances, indicating that a desire for freedom is tied closely to a hopeful outlook on life and what it could be.
In practice
In a motivational speech about pursuing dreams, this quote can be used to inspire those who feel trapped by their circumstances.
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.
We are the species who cooks. No other species cooks. And when we learned to cook, we became truly human.
In every truth, the opposite is equally true. For example, a truth can only be expressed and enveloped in words if it is onesided.
If we were logical, the future would be bleak, indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope, and we can work.
When you are writing laws you are testing words to find their utmost power. Like spells, they have to make things happen in the real world, and like spells, they only work if people believe in them.
No one's death comes to pass without making some impression, and those close to the deceased inherit part of the liberated soul and become richer in their humanness.
The reduction of the earth to an object simply for human's use/ possession is unthinkable in most traditional cultures... the earth belongs to itself and to all the component members of the community.
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