In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.
Interpretation
To gain a true understanding of the world, sometimes it is necessary to withdraw from it.
Albert Camus suggests that to comprehend the complexities of the world, one must occasionally distance oneself from it. This retreat allows for introspection and a clearer perspective, enabling individuals to analyze their surroundings more thoughtfully rather than being engulfed by the chaos of daily life.
In practice
During a speech about the importance of self-reflection in personal growth.
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.
Every man's path is for himself; let him accomplish his own desires that he may thus be able to rise above them to the eternal goal.
I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered because we are not willing to forgive someone.
History... is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.
The only thing in the world worth a damn is the strange, touching, pathetic, awesome nobility of the individual human spirit.
I have not come to know atheism as a result of logical reasoning and still less as an event in my life: in me it is a matter of instinct.
That said, the question remains: how to strike the balance between free speech and mutual respect in this mixed-up world, both blessed and cursed with instant communication? We should not fight fire with fire, threats with threats.
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