Mistakes are joyful, truth infernal.
Interpretation
Mistakes bring joy as they lead to learning, while the harsh truth can be painful.
This quote by Albert Camus suggests that making mistakes is a natural and often enjoyable part of life, as it opens opportunities for learning and growth. In contrast, facing the absolute truth can be a challenging and often hellish experience, indicating that some truths may be difficult to accept and can lead to suffering or discomfort.
In practice
During a workshop on creativity, I quoted Camus to inspire participants to embrace their mistakes.
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.
Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies.
Good books tell the truth, even when they're about things that never have been and never will be. They're truthful in a different way
Most evolving lineages, human or otherwise, when threatened with extinction, don't do anything special to avoid it.
You must trust and believe in people or life becomes impossible.
Laboring through a world every day more stultified, which expected salvation in codes and governments, ever more willing to settle for suburban narratives and diminished payoffs--what were the chances of finding anyone else seeking to transcend that, and not even particularly aware of it?
There are two ways of seeing: with the body and with the soul. The body's sight can sometimes forget, but the soul remembers forever.
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