Appetite Quote by Albert Camus
“A stranger to myself and to the world, armed solely with a thought that negates itself as soon as it asserts, what is this condition in which I can have peace only by refusing to know and to live, in which the appetite for conquest bumps into walls that defy its assaults?”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Stranger by Albert Camus, 1942
The narrator feels trapped in a paradox where seeking peace requires denying knowledge, leading to a conflict between desire for control and existential limits.
In simple terms: Peace through denial creates inner conflict.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty, avoid self‑contradiction.
Themes
existentialism
paradox
identity
conflict
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- mental health therapy
- creative writing
- philosophical counseling
Key Concepts
Absurdism
self‑deception
freedom vs. control
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to “refuse to know”?
- Can peace be found without self‑deception?
A Different Perspective
Denial may lead to deeper alienation rather than peace.
