I don’t know whether this world has a meaning that transcends it. But I know that I cannot know that meaning and that it is impossible for me just now to know it.
Interpretation
The quote expresses uncertainty about the inherent meaning of life and acknowledges the limits of human understanding.
In this quote, Albert Camus reflects on the nature of existence and the perplexing question of whether life has a deeper meaning. He admits to his inability to grasp such a meaning at this moment, highlighting the limitations of human knowledge and the philosophical struggle with existential queries about purpose and understanding.
In practice
In a discussion about the nature of existence 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.
[A]s it must be admitted that the remedy under the Constitution lies where it has been marked out by the Constitution; and that no appeal can be consistently made from that remedy by those who were and still profess to be parties to it, but the appeal to the parties themselves having an authority above the Constitution or to the law of nature & of nature's God.
Keep in mind that the true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good.
Do what you will. Even if you tear yourself apart, most people will continue doing the same things.
No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.
The main conclusion arrived at in this work, namely that man is descended from some lowly-organised form, will, I regret to think, be highly distasteful to many persons. But there can hardly be a doubt that we are descended from barbarians.
How can we know the dancer from the dance?
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