There's one other thing I'd like to remind you of, my…
““There's one other thing I'd like to remind you of, my dear. There've been many times when you've sworn to me that after all that life has dealt you, it was no longer possible for you to believe in anything. I replied that both life and my studies had led me to the same conclusion. I asked you, 'What is a person permitted, once he's realized that truth is unattainable and consequently doesn't exist for him?' Do you remember your answer?" "I do, ibn Sabbah. I said something like this: 'If a person realized that everything people call happiness, love and joy was just a miscalculation based on a false premise, he'd feel a horrible emptiness inside. The only thing that could rouse him from his paralysis would be to gamble with his own face and the face of others. The person capable of that would be permitted anything.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
When one sees truth as unattainable, they may feel emptiness and seek extreme risks to feel alive, implying that only those willing to gamble on identity can act freely.
In simple terms: Seeing truth as unreachable can cause emptiness; daring risks restore purpose.
Key Takeaway
Embrace bold choices when meaning feels lost.
Themes
existentialism
risk
identity
freedom
meaninglessness
Mood
conflicted
introspective
philosophical
Type
dialogue
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- philosophical debate
- creative writing
- psychological therapy
Key Concepts
nihilism
absurdism
psychology
agency
Questions to Reflect On
- What risks would you take when you feel empty?
- Is gambling with identity a healthy response?
A Different Perspective
Such radical risk can harm self and others, and not all can handle it.