Albert Camus


1913-1960




One thinks one has cut oneself off from the world, but it is
enough to see an olive tree upright in the golden dust,
or beaches glistening in the morning sun, to feel this
separation melt away. Thus with me. I become aware of the
possibilities for which I am responsible. Every minute of
life carries with it its miraculous value, and its face of
eternal youth.

One must not cut oneself off from the world. No one who
lives in the sunlight makes a failure of his life. My whole
effort, whatever the situation, misfortune or disillusion,
must be to make contact again. But even within this sadness
I feel a great leap of joy and a great desire to love simply
at the sight of a hill against the evening sky.

Notebooks, 1936





Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow;
don't walk behind me, I may not lead;
walk beside me, and just be my friend."





When I was young, I expected people to give me more than
they could - continuous friendship, permanent emotion.
Now I have learned to expect less of them than they can
give - a silent companionship. And their emotions, their
friendship, and noble gestures keep their full miraculous
value in my eyes; wholly the fruit of grace.





If I had to write a book on morality, it would have a
hundred pages and ninety-nine would be blank.
On the last page I should write:
"I recognize only one duty, and that is to love."
And, as far as everything else is concerned, I say no.
I say no with all my strength.





Dialog:

"And what do you do in life?"

"I count."

"What?"

"I count. I say: one, the sea;
two, the sky (ah, how beautiful it is);
three, women;
four, flowers (ah, how happy I am)."

"You end up by being silly then."

"Good Lord, you think like your morning paper does.
I think like the world does. You share the views of the
Echo de Paris, and I share those of the world.
When it's bathed in sunlight, when the sun beats down,
I want to love and kiss, to flow into bodies as into
patches of light, to bathe myself in flesh and sunlight.
When the world is gray, I feel gloomy and full of tenderness.
I feel more moral, and so able to love..."





An intellectual,? Yes. And never deny it. An intellectual
is someone whose mind watched itself. I like this, because
I am happy to be both halves, the watcher and the watched.
"Can they be brought together?" This is a practical question.
We must get down to it. "I despise intelligence" really means :
"I cannot bear my doubts"
I prefer to keep my eyes open.





We do not need to reveal ourselves to others, but only
to those we love. For then we are no longer revealing
ourselves in order to seem but in order to give.






...And if I now feel that I have come to a turning point
in my life, this is not because of what I have won but
because of what I have lost. Within me, I feel a deep and
intense strength that will enable me to live as I intend.
If, today, I feel so distant from everything, it is because
I have strength only to love and admire. Life with its face
of tears and sun, life in the salt sea and on warm stones,
life as I love and understand it - as I caress it I feel
my love and despair gathering strength within me.
Today is not like a resting place between "yes" and "no."
It is both "yes" and "no." "No," and rebellion against
everything which is not tears and sunlight.
"Yes" to my life, whose future promise I now feel within
myself for the first time.





Back