He himself, Anthony went on to think, he himself had…
““He himself, Anthony went on to think, he himself had chosen to regard the whole process as either pointless or a practical joke. Yes, chosen. For it had been an act of the will. If it were all nonsense or a joke, then he was at liberty to read his books and exercise his talents for sarcastic comment; there was no reason why he shouldn't sleep with any presentable woman who was ready to sleep with him. If it weren't nonsense, if there was some significance, then he could no longer live irresponsibly. There were duties towards himself and others and the nature of things. Duties with whose fulfilment the sleeping and the indiscriminate reading and the habit of detached irony would interfere. He had chosen to think it nonsense, and nonsense for more than twenty years the thing had seemed to be – nonsense, in spite of occasional uncomfortable intimations that there might be a point, and that the point was precisely in what he had chosen to regard as the pointlessness, the practical joke.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A character decides life is meaningless, allowing he to indulge in pleasure without responsibility, but the possibility of meaning forces a moral dilemma.
In simple terms: He treats life as a joke, but may need to face duty.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when escapism hides deeper obligations.
Themes
existentialism
responsibility
meaning
indulgence
Mood
reflective
conflicted
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- relationships
- career choices
- personal growth
- creative work
Key Concepts
free will
nihilism
moral conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever use humor to avoid confronting purpose?
- How would you act if you suddenly felt life had meaning?
A Different Perspective
If meaning emerges, his carefree lifestyle becomes untenable.