If you want your own way, God will let you have it. Hell is the enjoyment of one's own way forever.
Dorothy L. SayersRead
Suicide is the means of men whose resilience has been eaten away by rust, the rust of the daily round. They were born for action, but they have delayed their action; so action turns back on them with the swing of a pendulum. Suicide is an act, the act of those who have not been able to accomplish others. It is an act of faith, like all acts. Faith in one’s neighbor, in the existence of one’s neighbor, in the reality of the self and the other selves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the tragic contemplation of suicide as a result of lost resilience and delayed action.
In this profound statement, Pierre Drieu La Rochelle delves into the psyche of individuals who contemplate suicide, suggesting that their struggles are rooted in a loss of resilience caused by the monotonous burdens of daily life. He portrays suicide not as a mere escape, but as a complex act intertwined with faith—an expression of despair in the inability to act, connect, and find meaning in their existence and in their relationships with others. This quote serves as both a reflection on the tragic human condition and a critical reminder of the need for action and connection.
Themes
SuicideResilienceActionFaithDespair
In practice
Example use cases
In a mental health awareness speech, one might say, 'As Drieu La Rochelle reminds us, daily struggles can erode our resilience, leading to despair.'
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