The great and only possible dignity of man lies in his…
““The great and only possible dignity of man lies in his power deliberately to choose certain moral values by which to live as steadfastly as if he, too, like a character in a play, were immured against the corrupting rush of time. Snatching the eternal out of the desperately fleeting is the great magic trick of human existence. As far as we know, as far as there exists any kind of empiric evidence, there is no way to beat the beat the game of being against non-being , in which non-being is the predestined victor on realistic levels.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He suggests dignity comes from consciously choosing moral values, confronting time’s decay, and seeking permanence amidst fleeting existence.
In simple terms: Choose values to stay moral despite life’s chaos.
Key Takeaway
Live by chosen principles.
Themes
morality
existentialism
human dignity
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- ethical dilemmas
- philosophical reflection
Key Concepts
ethical choice
temporal finitude
meaning making
Questions to Reflect On
- What values guide you daily?
- Can you sustain them under pressure?
A Different Perspective
The ideal of control may be limited by external circumstances.