Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, who died in 1965, wrote…
““Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, who died in 1965, wrote of how the mere thought of the infinite led him to contemplate suicide: “A necessity I could not imagine swept over me: I had to try again and again to imagine the edge of space, or its edgelessness, time with a beginning and an end or time without a beginning or end, and both were equally impossible, equally hopeless … Under an irresistible compulsion I reeled from one to the other, at times so closely threatened with the danger of madness that I seriously thought of avoiding it by suicide.”8””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Buber’s existential crisis illustrates how confronting the infinite can provoke despair, yet also forces repeated attempts to grasp the unknowable.
In simple terms: Struggling with thoughts of infinity and suicide.
Key Takeaway
Persist in seeking meaning despite uncertainty.
Themes
existential
infinite
despair
philosophy
mental health
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- academic research
- personal crisis
- spiritual contemplation
- creative writing
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
ontological limits
psychological compulsion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you cope with unanswerable questions?
- What role does hope play in confronting the unknown?
A Different Perspective
Infinite concepts can overwhelm rational minds.