Arbitrary Quote by H. P. Lovecraft
“It is because the cosmos is meaningless that we must secure our individual illusions of values, direction, and interest by upholding the artificial streams which give us such worlds of salutary illusion. That is - since nothing means anything in itself, we must preserve the proximate and arbitrary background which makes things around us seem as if they did mean something.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Philosophy of Cosmic Indifference, 1930
Because existence lacks inherent meaning, we create personal values and narratives to give life purpose, preserving comforting fictions.
In simple terms: We make up meanings to feel life matters.
Key Takeaway
Embrace personal narratives while questioning their foundations.
Themes
meaninglessness
subjectivity
comfort
illusion
values
Mood
reflective
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- personal goal setting
- creative writing
- therapy
- philosophical discussion
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
existentialism
nihilism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal values feel most artificial?
- How can you balance comfort with truth?
A Different Perspective
These constructed meanings can become limiting if they prevent confronting reality.
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