In our society, any man who doesn't cry at his mother's funeral is liable to be condemned to death. Albert Camus More Quotes by Albert Camus More Quotes From Albert Camus Basically, at the very bottom of life, which seduces us all, there is only absurdity, and more absurdity. And maybe that's what gives us our joy for living, because the only thing that can defeat absurdity is lucidity. Albert Camus defeat joy giving She was waiting, but she didn't know for what. She was aware only of her solitude, and of the penetrating cold, and of a greater weight in the region of her heart. Albert Camus solitude waiting heart All I maintain is that on this earth there are pestilences and there are victims, and it's up to us, so far as possible, not to join forces with the pestilences. That may sound simple to the point of childishness; I can't judge if it's simple, but I know it's true. Albert Camus simple judging sound There is no shame in preferring happiness. Albert Camus shame On certain mornings, as we turn a corner, Albert Camus heart morning fall Love cannot accept what it is. Everywhere on earth it cries out against kindness, compassion, intelligence, everything that leads to compromise. Love demands the impossible, the absolute, the sky on fire, inexhaustible springtime, life after death, and death itself transfigured into eternal life. Albert Camus compassion kindness friendship In art, rebellion is consummated and perpetuated in the act of real creation, not in criticism or commentary. Albert Camus criticism real art We all carry within us places of exile, our crimes, our ravages. Our task is not to unleash them on the world; it is to transform them in ourselves and others. Albert Camus crime tasks world You make the mistake of thinking you have to choose, that you have to do what you want, that there are conditions for happiness. What matters — all that matters, really is the will to happiness, a kind of enormous, ever present consciousness. The rest - women , art, success — is nothing but excuses. A canvas waiting for our embroideries. Albert Camus mistake art thinking An intense feeling carries with it its own universe, magnificent or wretched as the case may be. Albert Camus intense feelings may Man cannot do without beauty, and this is what our era pretends to want to disregard. Albert Camus eras want men Happiness is generous. It does not subsist on destruction. Albert Camus destruction doe happiness I was assailed by memories of a life that wasn't mine anymore, but one in which I'd found the simplest and most lasting joys. Albert Camus stranger joy memories Peace is the only battle worth waging. Albert Camus battle humanity peace To grow old is to pass from passion to compassion. Albert Camus aging passion age After all perhaps the greatness of art lies in the perpetual tension between beauty and pain, the love of men and the madness of creation, unbearable solitude and the exhausting crowd, rejection and consent. Albert Camus pain lying art The aim of art, the aim of a life can only be to increase the sum of freedom and responsibility to be found in every man and in the world. It cannot, under any circumstances, be to reduce or suppress that freedom, even temporarily. Albert Camus responsibility men art The work of art is born of the intelligence's refusal to reason the concrete. It marks the triumph of the carnal. Albert Camus triumph design art No one who lives in the sunlight of gratitude that things aren't worse makes a failure of his or her life. Albert Camus sunlight gratitude Truly fertile Music, the only kind that will move us, that we shall truly appreciate, will be a Music conducive to Dream, which banishes all reason and analysis. One must not wish first to understand and then to feel. Art does not tolerate Reason. Albert Camus music dream appreciation