You see, Dimitri and I, we are both suffering from ennui!…
““You see, Dimitri and I, we are both suffering from ennui! We have still the match-boxes. But at last one gets tired even of match-boxes. Besides, our collection will soon be complete. And then what are we going to do?" 'Oh, Madame!' I exclaimed, touched by the moral unhappiness of this pretty person, 'if you only had a son, then you would know what to do. You would then learn the purpose of your life, and your thoughts would become at once more serious and yet more cheerful.' 'But I have a son,' she replied. 'He is a big boy; he is eleven years old, and he suffers from ennui like the rest of us. Yes, my George has ennui, too; he is tired of everything. It is very wretched.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage sat that even privileged people can feel deep boredom and lack of purpose, and that personal connections may not resolve existential emptiness.
In simple terms: Even the rich feel bored and purposeless; having a child doesn’t guarantee meaning.
Key Takeaway
Seek purpose beyond material comforts.
Themes
ennui
existentialism
family
purpose
discontent
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marriage
- parenting
- creative pursuits
- philosophical reflection
Key Concepts
existential boredom
search for meaning
intergenerational angst
Questions to Reflect On
- What gives your life meaning beyond daily routine?
- Can purpose be found without external validation?
A Different Perspective
Boredom may persist despite relationships or wealth.