Because everybody who has ever lost their way in life has felt the nagging insistence of that question. At some point we all look up and realize we are lost in a maze, and I dont want us to forget Alaska, and I don't want to forget that even when the material we study seems boring, we're trying to und3erstand how people answered that question and the question each of you posed in your papers--how different traditions have come to terms with what Chip, in his final, called 'people's rotten lots in life.

Summary

This quote highlights the universal feeling of being lost in life and the importance of remembering certain experiences, such as Alaska, that have shaped our understanding. It emphasizes that even mundane or uninteresting subjects can provide insight into how different cultures and traditions have grappled with the question of human suffering and adversity. The quote suggests that by examining these diverse perspectives, we can gain a deeper understanding of our own experiences and find meaning in the challenges we face.

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