---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On some evenings it would sadden Jacques…"
description: "\"“On some evenings it would sadden Jacques to look at them (workers). Until then he had only known the riches and the joys of poveryy. But now heat and ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/albert-camus-47_curse_on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques_2580786.jpg"
---

#  On some evenings it would sadden Jacques to look at them…

![“On some evenings it would sadden Jacques to look at them (workers). Until then he had only known the riches and the joys of poveryy. But now heat and boredom and fatigue were showing him their curse, the curse of work so stupid you could weep and so interminably monotonous that it made the days…” quote by Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/albert-camus-47_curse_on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques_2580786.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/albert-camus-47_curse_on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques_2580786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/albert-camus-47_curse_on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques_2580786.jpg)

> ““On some evenings it would sadden Jacques to look at them (workers). Until then he had only known the riches and the joys of poveryy. But now heat and boredom and fatigue were showing him their curse, the curse of work so stupid you could weep and so interminably monotonous that it made the days too long and, at the same time, life too short.””

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes the oppressive monotony of work that contrasts with earlier poverty, highlighting existential fatigue.

**In simple terms:** Work can feel oppressive and endless.

Key Takeaway

Seek meaning beyond routine.

Themes

work monotony existential fatigue

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- job dissatisfaction
- creative pursuits
- life balance

Key Concepts

alienation meaninglessness

Questions to Reflect On

- How does routine affect you?
- Can work be fulfilling?

A Different Perspective

May romanticize poverty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Curse Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse-work-1775418/) [Evenings Sadden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evenings-sadden-1775417/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life too short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-too-short/) [Monotonous Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monotonous-days-1775420/) [Sadden Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadden-jacques-1775419/) [Time Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-life/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/)

## Related quotes

> [“Squeezed against each other in the heavy heat, they were silent...looking toward the home that was expecting them--quiet, perspiring, resigned to this existence divided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/squeezed-against-each-other-in-the-heavy-heat-they-were-silent/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [I believe that everything happens for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-believe-that-everything-happens-for-a-reason/)

[Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/)

> [Here are some questions I am constantly noodling over: Do you splurge or do you hoard? Do you live every day as if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/here-are-some-questions-i-am-constantly-noodling-over-do-you-splurge/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [Why would I? Bcause life is too short NOT to!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ceci-crooms/why-would-i-bcause-life-is-too-short-not-to/)

[Ceci Crooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ceci-crooms/)

> [“Life too short to spend alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-too-short-to-spend-alone/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is too short to worry about anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/life-is-too-short-to-worry-about-anything/)

[Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/)

> [If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it'd be easy, they just promised it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/if-you-get-a-chance-take-it-if-it-changes-your-life-let-it-nobody/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [Life too short, make sure you enjoyed every second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmad-mansour/life-too-short-make-sure-you-enjoyed-every-second/)

[Ahmad Mansour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmad-mansour/)

> [Begin doing what you want to do now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-beynon-lyons-ray/begin-doing-what-you-want-to-do-now/)

[Marie Beynon Lyons Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-beynon-lyons-ray/)

> [Let's not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. Remember "Life is too short to be little".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/let-s-not-allow-ourselves-to-be-upset-by-small-things-we-should/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

> [Lifes too short to just breeze on by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/lifes-too-short-to-just-breeze-on-by/)

[David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/)

> [I really hate the feeling of knowing exactly what I want but being being too afraid to go out and get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-hate-the-feeling-of-knowing-exactly-what-i-want-but-being/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only things you regret are the things you didn't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-curtiz/the-only-things-you-regret-are-the-things-you-didn-t-do/)

[Michael Curtiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-curtiz/)

> [I still find each day too short..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-still-find-each-day-too-short/)

[John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/)

> [Never stop enjoying, life too short to be gloomy everyday. Smile .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-stop-enjoying-life-too-short-to-be-gloomy-everyday-smile/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Albert Camus

> [“The whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Being is good, but getting rich is better… If the gods had only the riches of men's adoration, they would be as poor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/being-is-good-but-getting-rich-is-better-if-the-gods-had-only-the/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“Having been, not only mutilated in our country, wounded in our very flesh, but also divested of our most beautiful images, for you gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/having-been-not-only-mutilated-in-our-country-wounded-in-our-very/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [I've seen of enough of people who die for an idea. I don't believe in heroism; I know it's easy and I've learned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-ve-seen-of-enough-of-people-who-die-for-an-idea-i-don-t-believe-in/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The best are led to make greater demands upon themselves. As for those who succumb, they did not deserve to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-best-are-led-to-make-greater-demands-upon-themselves-as-for-those/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“Then he asked me if I wasn’t interested in a change of life. I said that people never change their lives, that in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/then-he-asked-me-if-i-wasn-t-interested-in-a-change-of-life-i-said/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Life is meaningless, but worth living, provided you recognize it's meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/life-is-meaningless-but-worth-living-provided-you-recognize-it-s/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Thinking of the future, establishing aims for oneself, having preferences-all this presupposes a belief in freedom, even if one occasionally ascertains that one doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/thinking-of-the-future-establishing-aims-for-oneself-having/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [I explained to him, however, that my nature was such that my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-explained-to-him-however-that-my-nature-was-such-that-my-physical/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-only-way-to-deal-with-an-unfree-world-is-to-become-so-absolutely/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“We love people not because for good they did for us, but for good we did for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-love-people-not-because-for-good-they-did-for-us-but-for-good-we/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [You have so much inside you, and the noblest happiness of all. Don’t just wait for a man to come along. That’s the mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/you-have-so-much-inside-you-and-the-noblest-happiness-of-all-don-t/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [The desire for possession is insatiable, to such a point that it can survive even love itself. To love, therefore, is to sterilize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-desire-for-possession-is-insatiable-to-such-a-point-that-it-can/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

[Explore all 1,600 Albert Camus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

## More Curse quotes

> [Who knew the counter-curse was just unjellify?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-malfoy/who-knew-the-counter-curse-was-just-unjellify/)

[Lucius Malfoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-malfoy/)

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [You have been deceived by your own cold heart - a curse upon your house and all within it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beauty-and-the-beast/you-have-been-deceived-by-your-own-cold-heart-a-curse-upon-your-house/)

[Beauty And The Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beauty-and-the-beast/)

> [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/)

[Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/)

> [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid-al-din-attar/were-you-indeed-not-blinded-by-the-curse-of-self-exile-that-still/)

[Farid al-Din Attar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farid-al-din-attar/)

> [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/)

[Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/)

> [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/)

[Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/)

> [If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labour, entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/if-the-idea-of-having-to-change-ourselves-makes-us-uncomfortable-we/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [“Mungu akikubariki kipaji chako watu watasema ni laana. Maisha yako ni sawa na mto. Unakoelekea ni baharini. Lakini sasa umefika kwenye mlango wa bahari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-akikubariki-kipaji-chako-watu-watasema-ni-laana-maisha-yako-ni/)

[Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/)

> [Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/partisanship-is-our-great-curse-we-too-readily-assume-that-everything/)

[James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/)

> [You have power over my body but the Lord Jesus hath power over my body and soul; and assure yourselves thus much, you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hutchinson/you-have-power-over-my-body-but-the-lord-jesus-hath-power-over-my/)

[Anne Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hutchinson/)

> [“The penis, often regarded as a weapon, is also a burden, the male curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gay-talese/the-penis-often-regarded-as-a-weapon-is-also-a-burden-the-male-curse/)

[Gay Talese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gay-talese/)

> [“Beauty will always be a curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-c-perry/beauty-will-always-be-a-curse/)

[L.C. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-c-perry/)

> [“Sometimes," Helena continued, "I have a terrible dream of the future. Not now, but presently, people may forget their loyalty to their kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/sometimes-helena-continued-i-have-a-terrible-dream-of-the-future-not/)

[Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/)

[Browse all 1,718 Curse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“On some evenings it would sadden Jacques to look at them (workers). Until then he had only known the riches and the joys of poveryy. But now heat and boredom and fatigue were showing him their curse, the curse of work so stupid you could weep and so interminably monotonous that it made the days too long and, at the same time, life too short.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Albert Camus"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques-to-look-at-them-workers/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Curse"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques-to-look-at-them-workers/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/albert-camus-47_curse_on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques_2580786.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/albert-camus-47_curse_on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques_2580786.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/albert-camus-47_curse_on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques_2580786.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“On some evenings it would sadden Jacques to look at them (workers). Until then he had only known the riches…” — Albert Camus",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Albert Camus",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“On some evenings it would sadden...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques-to-look-at-them-workers/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/on-some-evenings-it-would-sadden-jacques-to-look-at-them-workers/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
