Myth of Sisyphus Quotes, born November 7, 1913, in Mondovi, Algeria, and died January 4, 1960, was a French philosopher and novelist whose seminal essay The Myth of Sisyphus (1942) explores the concept of the absurd—the conflict between humanity’s search for meaning and the universe’s indifference. Using the Greek myth of Sisyphus, condemned to eternally roll a boulder up a hill only for it to roll down, Camus argues for embracing life’s absurdity with defiance and joy. These 15 quotes, sourced directly from The Myth of Sisyphus and its appended writings, reflect his philosophical insights on existence, freedom, and resilience, capturing his lucid and rebellious voice.
15 Albert Camus Quotes from The Myth of Sisyphus
- “The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “A man is more a man through the things he keeps to himself than through those he says.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “The absurd man says yes and his effort will henceforth be unceasing.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “To be free is to be aware of the absurd and to live in spite of it.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “What is called a reason for living is also an excellent reason for dying.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “Man cannot do without beauty, and this is what our era pretends to want to disregard.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “At the heart of all beauty lies something inhuman.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
- “I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one’s burden again.” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1942)
Camus’ quotes from The Myth of Sisyphus are a bold blend of existential clarity and defiant hope, urging readers to find joy in life’s absurd struggle. Which one’s got you ready to embrace your own boulder? Drop it in the comments and keep his philosophical legacy rolling!
Emma Thompson
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