Difficult Quote by Jean Cocteau
“It is difficult to live without opium after having known it because it is difficult, after knowing opium, to take earth seriously. And unless one is a saint, it is difficult to live without taking earth seriously.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on Art and Existence, 1935
After experiencing opium, ordinary life feels trivial, yet without it, life feels empty; both extremes are hard.
In simple terms: Opium skews perception of reality.
Key Takeaway
Balance awareness of pleasure and reality.
Themes
add
add
existence
duality
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- writing memoir
- discussing addiction
- teaching mindfulness
Key Concepts
personal struggle
addiction
philosophical reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does altered perception change values?
- Can one find meaning without escapism?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on extremes can ignore middle ground.
![“Opium is the only drug to' be rely'd on-all the boasted nostrums only take up time, and as the disease [is] often of short duration, or of small quantity, they have gain'd credit which they do not deserve.” quote by Erasmus Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/762/erasmus-darwin-17186_credit_opium-is-the-only-drug-to-be-rely-d-on-a_368750.jpg)
