What else is there to make life tolerable? We stand on the shore of an ocean, crying to the night and to emptiness. Sometimes a voice of one drowning, and in a moment the silence returns. The world seems to me quite dreadful, the unhappiness of many people is very great, and I often wonder how they all endure it. It is usually the central thing around which their lives are built, and I suppose if they did not live most of their lives in the things of the moment, they would not be able to go on.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker ponders the nature of life and the capacity for enduring its hardships. The metaphor of standing on the shore of a vast ocean represents the feeling of solitude and despair. The cries, silence, and the drowning voice symbolize the struggle and suffering that permeate the world. The speaker finds the world dreadful, highlighting the immense unhappiness endured by many. Despite this, the quote suggests that people carry on by immersing themselves in the fleeting distractions and pleasures of the present moment, building their lives around them as a means to tolerate the otherwise unbearable reality.

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