Quote by Leo Tolstoy
My life came to a standstill. I could breathe, eat, drink and sleep, and I could not help doing these things; but there was no life, for there were no wishes the fulfilment of which I could consider reasonable. If I desired anything, I knew in advance that whether I satisfied my desire or not, nothing would come of it. Had a fairy come and offered to fulfil my desires I should not have known what to ask. If in moments of intoxication I felt something which, though not a wish, was a habit left by former wishes, in sober moments I knew this to be a delusion and that there was really nothing to wish for. I could not even wish to know the truth, for I guess of what it consisted. The truth was that life is meaningless.
Summary
This quote reflects a state of existential despair and nihilism. The individual expresses a deep sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction with life, as they feel that their desires have no meaningful outcomes, and there is nothing worth wishing for. Even if their desires were to be fulfilled, they believe it would bring no fulfillment or purpose. The person recognizes that even moments of fleeting joy or excitement are illusory, and they cannot even desire knowledge of the truth because they suspect it will confirm the inherent meaninglessness of life.
By Leo Tolstoy
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.
