The real passion of the twentieth century is servitude.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that the dominant drive of the twentieth century was a willingness to serve others, often at the expense of personal freedom.
Albert Camus argues that the essence of the twentieth century can be seen in the phenomenon of servitude, where individuals often succumb to the demands of society, authority, or ideology. This servitude reflects a deeper existential struggle, as people grapple with their roles and responsibilities while sacrificing their own autonomy for allegiance to larger systems or beliefs. Camus highlights the tension between the human desire for freedom and the reality of living within societal constraints.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the impact of societal pressures on individual freedom during a philosophy class.
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.
Rich bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others.
People consider the harms they inflict to be justified and forgettable, and the harms they suffer to be unprovoked and grievous.
A bad review is even less important than whether it is raining in Patagonia.
The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself.
I was escaping from Nature and at last becoming myself, that Other whom I was aspiring to be in the eyes of others.
The museums of medieval Europe, from Holland to Tuscany, are crammed with instruments and devices upon which the holy men labored devoutly, in order to see how long they could keep someone alive while being roasted. It is not needful to go into further details, but there were also religious books of instruction in this art, and guides for the detection of heresy by pain.
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