Quote by Bertrand Russell
A man may feel so completely thwarted that he seeks no form of satisfaction, but only distraction and oblivion. He then becomes a devotee of pleasure. That is to say, he seeks to make life bearable by becoming less alive. Drunkenness, for example, is temporary suicide.
Summary
This quote suggests that when a person feels excessively frustrated or defeated, they may turn to seeking distractions and losing themselves as a means of coping. Instead of finding true satisfaction, they become devoted to indulging in pleasurable but temporary experiences, which ultimately serve to numb their existence. The quote illustrates that behaviors such as excessive drinking can be seen as a form of temporary escape or self-destructive behavior, akin to a brief state of self-inflicted death. Overall, it emphasizes the consequences of seeking superficial pleasure in order to avoid confronting life's challenges.
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