We continue to shape our personality all our life. If we knew ourselves perfectly, we should die.
Interpretation
We are constantly evolving and developing our character throughout our lives, and complete self-understanding would symbolize the end of personal growth.
This quote by Albert Camus suggests that the journey of self-discovery and personal development is a lifelong process. To fully understand ourselves could imply the cessation of growth and exploration, as life is about uncovering new facets of our personality and experiences. Hence, continuous change and introspection are essential components of our existence.
In practice
In a motivational speech about continuous self-improvement.
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.
The whole Turkish empire is nothing else but a crust cast by Heaven's great Housekeeper to His dogs.
Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.
'What is' is more important than 'what should be.' Too many people are looking at 'what is' from a position of thinking 'what should be'.
Everyone - pantheist, atheist, skeptic, polytheist - has to answer these questions: 'Where did I come from? What is life's meaning? How do I define right from wrong and what happens to me when I die?' Those are the fulcrum points of our existence.
And I don't think we should be continuing to propagate the idea that famous people are magical or special because it makes people feel like their lives ain't no good.
Materialism is in fact no protection. Those who seek it in that hope (they are not a negligible class) will be disappointed. The thing you fear is impossible. Well and good. Can you therefore cease to fear it? Not here and now. And what then? If you must see ghosts, it is better not to disbelieve in them.
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