Quote by Albert Camus

[] Everyone tries to make his life a work of art. We want love to last and we know that it does not last; even if, by some miracle, it were to last a whole lifetime, it would still be incomplete. Perhaps, in this insatiable need for perpetuation, we should better understand human suffering, if we knew that it was eternal. It appears that great minds are, sometimes, less horrified by suffering than by the fact that it does not endure. In default of inexhaustible happiness, eternal suffering would at least give us a destiny. But we do not even have that consolation, and our worst agonies come to an end one day. One morning, after many dark nights of despair, an irrepressible longing to live will announce to us the fact that all is finished and that suffering has no more meaning than happiness.

Summary

The quote highlights the inherent desire in human beings to create a meaningful and enduring life. Despite knowing that love and happiness are transient, we strive for their perpetuation, seeking a sense of eternity. The quote suggests that if we were to understand suffering as eternal, we might better comprehend its purpose. It suggests that while great minds may tolerate suffering, they find it more disconcerting to confront its transient nature. The idea of eternal suffering, though bleak, provides a sense of purpose or destiny, but even that consolation is lacking. Ultimately, the quote argues that suffering and happiness lose their meaning, leading to a realization that all is finished, and a longing to embrace life becomes undeniable.