Drunkenness Quote by Milan Kundera
““It was vertigo. A heady, insuperable longing to fall. We might also call vertigo the intoxication of the weak. Aware of his weakness, a man decides to give in rather than stand up to it. He is drunk with weakness, wishes to grow even weaker, wishes to fall down in the middle of the main square in front of everybody, wishes to be down, lower than down." -Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, p. 76””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera, 1984
The passage describes a desperate yearning to surrender to weakness, seeking self‑destruction as a way to escape confronting inner frailty.
In simple terms: A person longs to fall and be weak, preferring surrender over confronting their own frailty.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the allure of self‑sabotage and choose to confront weakness directly.
Themes
weakness
despair
self‑destruction
identity
existential crisis
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- support groups
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
self‑sabotage
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the urge to surrender reveal about your inner needs?
- How can you transform that longing into constructive growth?
A Different Perspective
The desire to fall may mask a deeper need for meaning, not just weakness.
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