All men have a sweetness in their life. That is what helps them go on. It is towards that they turn when they feel too worn out.
Interpretation
The quote highlights that every individual possesses an inherent goodness or sweetness that motivates them, especially during tough times.
In this quote, Albert Camus emphasizes the essential human quality of seeking positivity and sweetness in life as a source of strength and resilience. He suggests that when faced with challenges or exhaustion, people naturally gravitate towards the uplifting aspects of their existence, which provide comfort and motivation to continue their journey.
In practice
During a motivational speech about resilience, one could quote this to inspire others.
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.
Tonight this fool's halfway to heaven and just a mile outta hell_x000D_ And I feel like I'm comin' home.
I leave no trace of wings in the air, but I am glad I have had my flight.
It gets harder all the time, Bev Shaw once said. Harder, yet easier. One gets used to things getting harder; one ceases to be surprised that what used to be hard as hard can be grows harder yet.
What I'm not sure about, is if our lives have been so different from the lives of the people we save. We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time.
Life is like arriving late for a movie, having to figure out what was going on without bothering everybody with a lot of questions, and then being unexpectedly called away before you find out how it ends.
Life is so uncertain: you never know what could happen. One way to deal with that is to keep your pajamas washed.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.