Life Quote by Paul Strathern
““My life has been a disaster on the grand scale - that I'd better make clear from the start. A catalogue of my former ambitions would give a Napoleon stage-fright. Art, Ethics, Theology, the Sciences (both practical and occult), even Perception itself, to say nothing of my later efforts at Empire Building, Commerce and Exploration - each of these were at some stage fields which I intended to master. My personality accepted no limits; all that could be conceived was possible. For me, personally. And now, even when I've come to the point where all personal considerations disgust me, I still realise the sublime inevitability of it all. I wasn't mistaken; I was merely trapped. Born trapped. Condemned for the length of a lifetime to play this buffoon Arthur Rimbaud. Yes, it's true what I always used to think when I was a kid: I is another.””
About This Quote
The speaker reflects on a life of grand, unfulfilled ambition across many domains, feeling trapped by an innate drive to master everything, leading to existential disillusionment.
In simple terms: Overreaching ambition yields existential emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Boundless ambition can become a self-imposed prison.
Themes
hubris
existentialism
self-identity
ambition
disillusionment
nihilism
Mood
melancholic
reflective
cynical
Type
personal confession
philosophical musing
When to use this quote
- reflecting on a career of varied pursuits
- contemplating personal failure
- discussing the cost of overambition
- exploring identity crises
- examining the paradox of desire
Key Concepts
personal limits
mastery vs. satisfaction
theatre of self
inevitability of failure
Practical Applications
- philosophical counseling
- creative writing analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives a person to pursue mastery in so many fields?
- How does recognizing one's own limits alter the pursuit of greatness?
![“Hopefully I can inspire lots of people to learn about [Patti Smith], to read poetry or learn about William Blake or Arthur Rimbaud.” quote by Steven Sebring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/090/steven-sebring-14700_arthur_hopefully-i-can-inspire-lots-of-people-t_3189115.jpg)
