--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At such moments the collapse of their…" description: "\"“At such moments the collapse of their courage, willpower, and endurance was so abrupt that they felt they could never drag themselves out of the pit o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/camus-albert-2-78819_courage_at-such-moments-the-collapse-of-their-co_454394.jpg" --- # At such moments the collapse of their courage, willpower… ![“At such moments the collapse of their courage, willpower, and endurance was so abrupt that they felt they could never drag themselves out of the pit of despond into which they had fallen. Therefore they forced themselves never to think about the problematic day of escape, to cease looking to the…” quote by Camus Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/camus-albert-2-78819_courage_at-such-moments-the-collapse-of-their-co_454394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/camus-albert-2-78819_courage_at-such-moments-the-collapse-of-their-co_454394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/camus-albert-2-78819_courage_at-such-moments-the-collapse-of-their-co_454394.jpg) > ““At such moments the collapse of their courage, willpower, and endurance was so abrupt that they felt they could never drag themselves out of the pit of despond into which they had fallen. Therefore they forced themselves never to think about the problematic day of escape, to cease looking to the future, and always to keep, so to speak, their eyes fixed on the ground at their feet. But, naturally enough, this prudence, this habit of feinting with their predicament and refusing to put up a fight, was ill rewarded. For, while averting that revulsion which they found so unbearable, they also deprived themselves of those redeeming moments, frequent enough when all is told, when by conjuring up pictures of a reunion to be, they could forget about the plague. Thus, in a middle course between these heights and depths, they drifted through life rather than lived, the prey of aimless days and sterile memories, like wandering shadows that could have acquired substance only by consenting to root themselves in the solid earth of their distress.”” Camus Albert ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding hope and future planning leads to a stagnant, unfulfilled life; confronting adversity is essential. **In simple terms:** Hope fuels life. Key Takeaway Seek purpose despite hardship. Themes existentialism psychology motivation Mood somber thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - mental health - career setbacks - creative blocks Key Concepts Absurdism meaning-making resilience Questions to Reflect On - What small steps can rekindle hope? - How can you transform suffering into growth? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on avoidance can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Looking to the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-to-the-future/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Numbness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbness/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Let's enjoy the aimless days while we still can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/let-s-enjoy-the-aimless-days-while-we-still-can/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Make sobriety a habit, and intemperance will be hateful; make prudence a habit, and reckless profligacy will be as contrary to the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/make-sobriety-a-habit-and-intemperance-will-be-hateful-make-prudence/) [Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/) > [Next to courage, willpower is the most important thing in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/next-to-courage-willpower-is-the-most-important-thing-in-politics/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [We can't change the past, but we can look to the future, and we can - we can hold ourselves accountable, to our -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-erickson/we-can-t-change-the-past-but-we-can-look-to-the-future-and-we-can-we/) [Rodney Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-erickson/) > [You never have to be scared to look to the future for opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/you-never-have-to-be-scared-to-look-to-the-future-for-opportunity/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [I feel that you are justified in looking into the future with true assurance, because you have a mode of living in which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-feel-that-you-are-justified-in-looking-into-the-future-with-true-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Everything that looks to the future elevates human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/everything-that-looks-to-the-future-elevates-human-nature/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [“Think of your life as a mighty kingdom, the past is your ever-expanding foundation, presently, you’re building layers onto the many towers of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-m/think-of-your-life-as-a-mighty-kingdom-the-past-is-your-ever/) Harrison M > [“Enjoy the moment. Everyone has become so busy looking ahead and worrying about their future, and looking at yesterday to see what went wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-o-neill/enjoy-the-moment-everyone-has-become-so-busy-looking-ahead-and/) [Jennifer O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-o-neill/) > [The present moment has always been available to spiritual seekers, but as long as you are seeking you are not available to the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-present-moment-has-always-been-available-to-spiritual-seekers-but/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“We can’t undo the past, but we can learn from it by looking to the future”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-j-vicente/we-can-t-undo-the-past-but-we-can-learn-from-it-by-looking-to-the/) Kim J. Vicente > [Today we are crushed by the sheer weight of the mechanized forces hurled against us, but we can still look to the future in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-gaulle/today-we-are-crushed-by-the-sheer-weight-of-the-mechanized-forces/) [Charles de Gaulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-gaulle/) > [I'm always looking to the future and what will next be on the horizon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-andres/i-m-always-looking-to-the-future-and-what-will-next-be-on-the-horizon/) [Jose Andres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-andres/) > [Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/where-there-has-been-racial-hatred-it-must-be-ended-where-there-has/) [Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/) > [Looking to the future I see in the further acceleration of science continuous jobs for our workers. Science will cure unemployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/looking-to-the-future-i-see-in-the-further-acceleration-of-science/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) ## More by Camus Albert > [“I believe in justice, but I will defend my mother before justice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camus-albert-2/i-believe-in-justice-but-i-will-defend-my-mother-before-justice/) Camus Albert > [“To a man devoid of blinders, there is no finer sight than that of the intelligence at grips with a reality that transcends it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camus-albert-2/to-a-man-devoid-of-blinders-there-is-no-finer-sight-than-that-of-the-2/) Camus Albert Explore all 3 Camus Albert quotes ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. 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A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) Kristen Armstrong > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“At such moments the collapse of their courage, willpower, and endurance was so abrupt that they felt they could never drag themselves out of the pit of despond into which they had fallen. 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