Without a global revolution in the sphere of human consciousness a more humane society will not emerge.
Vaclav HavelRead
Sometimes I wonder if suicides aren't in fact sad guardians of the meaning of life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the idea that those who take their own lives might possess a deeper understanding of life's meaning.
Vaclav Havel's quote suggests that suicides could be seen as individuals who grappled with profound existential questions and, in their tragic actions, reveal the complexity and difficulty of finding meaning in life. It prompts a reflection on the struggles that people face and the possible insights they have about life, suggesting that their experiences might hold valuable lessons for the living regarding the nature of existence and purpose.
Themes
SuicideMeaningLifePhilosophyExistence
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about mental health and the search for purpose, this quote can highlight the struggles individuals face.
More from Vaclav Havel
All quotes βOwnership is not a vice, not something to be ashamed of, but rather a commitment, and an instrument by which the general good can be served.
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In my opinion, theater shouldn't give advice to citizens.
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The exercise of power is determined by thousands of interactions between the world of the powerful and that of the powerless, all the more so because these worlds are never divided by a sharp line: everyone has a small part of himself in both.
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Human rights, human freedoms... and human dignity have their deepest roots somewhere outside the perceptible world... while the state is a human creation, human beings are the creation of God.
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Man is not an omipotent master of the universe, allowed to do with impunity whatever he thinks, or whatever suits him at the moment. The world we live in is made of an immensely complex and mysterious tissue about which we know very little and which we must treat with utmost humility.
Vaclav HavelRead
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If people destroy something replaceable made by mankind, they are called vandals; if they destroy something irreplaceable made by God, they are called developers.
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When we struggle for human rights, for freedom, for dignity, when we feel that it is a ministry of the church to concern itself for those who are hungry, for those who have no schools, for those who are deprived, we are not departing from God's promise. He comes to free us from sin, and the church knows that sin's consequences are all such injustices and abuses. The church knows it is saving the world when it undertakes to speak also of such things.
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1) Never trust a cop in a raincoat. 2) Beware of enthusiasm and of love, both are temporary and quick to sway. 3) If asked if you care about the world's problems, look deep into the eyes of he who asks, he will never ask you again. 4) Never give your real name. 5) If ever asked to look at yourself, don't look. 6) Never do anything the person standing in front of you can't understand. 7) Never create anything, it will be misinterpreted, it will chain you and follow you for the rest of your life.
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The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.
John LennonRead