I don't think the world is the way we like to think it is. I don't think it's one solid world, but many, thousands upon thousands of them--as many as there are people--because each person perceives the world in his or her own way; each lives in his or her own world. Sometimes they connect, for a moment, or more rarely, for a lifetime, but mostly we are alone, each living in our own world, suffering our small deaths.

Summary

This quote suggests that the world is not a singular, objective reality, but rather a collection of individual realities. Each person perceives the world uniquely, creating their own distinct worldview. Although there can be moments of connection or lasting connections between individuals, the underlying idea is that people mostly live and experience their own isolated worlds. It implies that within these personal worlds, individuals endure their own struggles and hardships, likening them to numerous small deaths.