My pessimism extends to the point of even suspecting the sincerity of other pessimists.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a deep skepticism about the authenticity of pessimism and the motives behind it.
Jean Rostand's quote reflects on the nature of pessimism, suggesting that not only does he hold a negative view of the world, but he also doubts the genuine concerns of others who share this outlook. This self-reflective skepticism indicates a profound sense of distrust, capturing the paradox of being pessimistic yet questioning the validity of shared pessimism. It reveals a layered understanding of human emotions and attitudes toward life and its challenges.
In practice
Discussing existential philosophy in a university lecture.
If a given scientist had not made a given discovery, someone else would have done so a little later. Johann Mendel dies unknown after having discovered the laws of heredity: thirty-five years later, three men rediscover them. But the book that is not written will never be written. The premature death of a great scientist delays humanity; that of a great writer deprives it.
Certain brief sentences are peerless in their ability to give one the feeling that nothing remains to be said.
We spend our time envying people whom we wouldn't wish to be.
Stupidity, outrage, vanity, cruelty, iniquity, bad faith, falsehood - we fail to see the whole array when it is facing in the same direction as we.
When a scientist is ahead of his times, it is often through misunderstanding of current, rather than intuition of future truth. In science there is never any error so gross that it won't one day, from some perspective, appear prophetic.
A few great minds are enough to endow humanity with monstrous power, but a few great hearts are not enough to make us worthy of using it.
He to whom many objects of pursuit arise at the same time, will frequently hesitate between different desires till a rival has precluded him, or change his course as new attractions prevail, and harass himself without advancing.
The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd, Lets in new light through chinks that Time has made. Stronger by weakness, wiser men become As they draw near to their eternal home: Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view That stand upon the threshold of the new.
I consider the official Catholic attitude on divorce, birth control, and censorship exceedingly dangerous to mankind.
Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking 'equal' means 'the same' and that we achieve equality by treating everyone identically.
The sovereignty of one's self over one's self is called Liberty.
Human beings are never to be treated as a means but always as ends.
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