I cannot help remembering a remark of De Casseres. It was…
““I cannot help remembering a remark of De Casseres. It was over the wine in Mouquin's. Said he: "The profoundest instinct in man is to war against the truth; that is, against the Real. He shuns facts from his infancy. His life is a perpetual evasion. Miracle, chimera and to-morrow keep him alive. He lives on fiction and myth. It is the Lie that makes him free. Animals alone are given the privilege of lifting the veil of Isis; men dare not. The animal, awake, has no fictional escape from the Real because he has no imagination. Man, awake, is compelled to seek a perpetual escape into Hope, Belief, Fable, Art, God, Socialism, Immortality, Alcohol, Love. From Medusa-Truth he makes an appeal to Maya-Lie””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Man instinctively rebels against reality, seeking escape in myths, hopes, and various ideologies, while animals accept truth without illusion.
In simple terms: People avoid reality by believing in myths; animals accept truth.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and confront your own escapism.
Themes
philosophy
human nature
truth
illusion
myth
escape
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- critical analysis
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What myths do you use to avoid truth?
- How can you face reality without fear?
A Different Perspective
Escapism can hinder authentic living.