Comparison Quote by Milan Kundera
““We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come...And so…there is no means of testing which decision is better, because there is no basis for comparison.””
About This Quote
Human decisions lack absolute criteria because we cannot compare lives across time, making choice inherently uncertain.
In simple terms: Choices are uncertain because we can't compare lives.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty in decision‑making.
Themes
philosophy
uncertainty
existentialism
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
existential
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career choices
- ethical dilemmas
- personal goals
- long‑term planning
Key Concepts
comparative judgment
life meaning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you cope with uncertain choices?
- What guides you when comparison is impossible?
A Different Perspective
Some decisions do have measurable outcomes.
![“We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come. [...] There is no means of testing which decision is better, because there is no basis for comparison. We live everything as it comes, without…” quote by Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae5/milan-kundera-120_life_we-can-never-know-what-to-want-because-l_2207987.jpg)
![“Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine is too complicated for all the elements to be able to enter into the analytical comparison we wish to make, we separate the more inconvenient [elements], we…” quote by Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d9/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_able_geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics_6945.jpg)
