I sometimes have moments of such despair, such despair ……
““I sometimes have moments of such despair, such despair … Because in those moments I start to think that I will never be capable of beginning to live a real life; because I have already begun to think that I have lost all sense of proportion, all sense of the real and the actual; because, what is more, I have cursed myself; because my nights of fantasy are followed by hideous moments of sobering! And all the time one hears the human crowd swirling and thundering around one in the whirlwind of life, one hears, one sees how people live—that they live in reality, that for them life is not something forbidden, that their lives are not scattered for the winds like dreams or visions but are forever in the process of renewal, forever young, and that no two moments in them are ever the same; while how dreary and monotonous to the point of being vulgar is timorous fantasy, the slave of shadow, of the idea...””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker feels trapped in despair, believing they cannot live authentically, while perceiving others as living fully in reality.
In simple terms: Despair makes one feel disconnected from real life.
Key Takeaway
Recognize moments of despair and seek grounding.
Themes
despair
authenticity
reality
self‑criticism
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “real life” mean to you?
- How can you balance fantasy and reality?
A Different Perspective
Despair can be a catalyst for growth if acknowledged.