At any street corner the feeling of absurdity can strike any man in the face.
Interpretation
The quote illustrates the unexpected and often overwhelming nature of existential feelings in everyday life.
Albert Camus speaks to the sudden realization of life's absurdity that can be encountered anywhere, emphasizing that such profound moments can interrupt the mundane experiences of everyday existence. These feelings provoke introspection and highlight the disconnection between human desires for meaning and the indifferent universe, suggesting that such absurd encounters are inherent to the human condition.
In practice
In a philosophical discussion about the nature of existence at a cafΓ©.
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.
There is no country but the heart.
Perhaps one reason we are fascinated by cats is because such a small animal can contain so much independence, dignity, and freedom of spirit. Unlike the dog, the cat's personality is never bet on a human's. He demands acceptance on his own terms.
Modern bourgeois society with its relations of production, of exchange, and of property, a society that has conjured up such gigantic means of production and of exchange, is like the sorcerer, who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells.
The individual is not accountable to society for his actions in so far as these concern the interests of no person but himself.
People with the strongest and healthiest sense of calling are not obsessed with their calling. They are preoccupied with the Caller.
Serious people have few ideas. People with ideas are never serious.
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