The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less. Vaclav Havel More Quotes by Vaclav Havel More Quotes From Vaclav Havel Just as the constant increase of entropy is the basic law of the universe, so it is the basic law of life to be ever more highly structured and to struggle against entropy. Vaclav Havel struggle hero life The only thing I can recommend at this stage is a sense of humor, an ability to see things in their ridiculous and absurd dimensions, to laugh at others and at ourselves, a sense of irony regarding everything that calls out for parody in this world. In other words, I can only recommend perspective and distance. Vaclav Havel distance perspective laughing Isn't it the moment of most profound doubt that gives birth to new certainties? Perhaps hopelessness is the very soil that nourishes human hope; perhaps one could never find sense in life without first experiencing its absurdity. Vaclav Havel hero hope giving Human rights, human freedoms... and human dignity have their deepest roots somewhere outside the perceptible world... while the state is a human creation, human beings are the creation of God. Vaclav Havel patriotic powerful rights We live in the postmodern world, where everything is possible and almost nothing is certain. Vaclav Havel postmodern certain world As in everything else, I must start with myself. That is: in all circumstances try to be decent, just, tolerant, and understanding, and at the same time try to resist corruption and deception. In other words, I must do my utmost to act in harmony with my conscience and my better self. Vaclav Havel deception understanding self Those that say that individuals are not capable of changing anything are only looking for excuses. Vaclav Havel capable individual excuse Education is the ability to perceive the hidden connections between phenomena. Vaclav Havel ability connections motivational The Declaration of Independence states that the Creator gave man the right to liberty. It seems man can realize that liberty only if he does not forget the One who endowed him with it. Vaclav Havel independence liberty men Hope is the deep orientation of the human soul that can be held at the darkest times. Vaclav Havel darkest-times humans soul The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and human responsibility. Vaclav Havel hero heart lying Courage means going against majority opinion in the name of the truth. Vaclav Havel names courage mean Ideology is a specious way of relating to the world. It offers human beings the illusion of an identity, of dignity, and of morality while making it easier for them to part with them. Vaclav Havel identity way world Man is a part of the world, and his spirit is part of the spirit of the world. We are merely a peculiar mode of Being, a living atom within it, or, rather, a cell that, if sufficiently open to itself and its own mystery, can also experience the mystery, the will, the pain, and the hope of the world. Vaclav Havel pain cells men The salvation of the world lies in the human heart. Vaclav Havel heart lying world Without a global revolution in the sphere of human consciousness a more humane society will not emerge. Vaclav Havel spheres revolution inspirational There are times when we must sink to the bottom of our misery to understand truth, just as we must descend to the bottom of a well to see the stars in broad daylight. Vaclav Havel political stars hero If every day a man takes orders in silence from an incompetent superior, if every day he solemnly performs ritual acts which he privately finds ridiculous, if he unhesitatingly gives answers to questionnaires which are contrary to his real opinions and is prepared to deny his own self in public, if he sees no difficulty in feigning sympathy or even affection where, in fact, he feels only indifference or aversion, it still does not mean that he has entirely lost the use of one of the basic human senses, namely, the sense of humiliation. Vaclav Havel sad real sympathy I really do inhabit a system in which words are capable of shaking the entire structure of government, where words can prove mightier than 10 military divisions. Vaclav Havel creativity military hero As soon as man began considering himself the source of the highest meaning in the world and the measure of everything, the world began to lose its human dimension, and man began to lose control of it. Vaclav Havel humility men world
