Adventure Quote by Peter De Vries
““I believe that man must learn to live without those consolations called religious, which is own intelligence must by now have told him belong to the childhood of the race. Philosophy can really give us nothing permanent to believe either; it is too rich in answers, each canceling out the rest. The quest for Meaning is foredoomed. Human life 'means' nothing. But this is not to say that it is not worth living. What does a Debussy Arabesque 'mean,' or a rainbow or a rose? A man delights in all of these, knowing himself to be no more--a wisp of music and a haze of dreams dissolving against the sun. Man has only his own two feet to stand on, his own human trinity to see him through: Reason, Courage, and Grace. And the first plus the second equals the third.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Unknown source, possibly personal essay, 20th century
Human existence lacks inherent meaning, yet we find value in sensory experiences and personal virtues.
In simple terms: Life is meaningless but still worth living through reason, courage, and grace.
Key Takeaway
Embrace sensory joys and cultivate inner virtues.
Themes
meaninglessness
existentialism
virtue
sensory pleasure
Mood
contemplative
reflective
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- art appreciation
- nature walks
- personal reflection
- creative pursuits
Key Concepts
existential nihilism
humanism
philosophical inquiry
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find value in everyday experiences?
- What virtues guide you when meaning feels absent?
A Different Perspective
Human life may still seek purpose despite inherent meaninglessness.
![“Who of us is mature enough for offspring before the offspring themselves arrive? The value of [parenthood] is not that adults produce children but that children produce adults.” quote by Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/33e/peter-de-vries-7735_children_who-of-us-is-mature-enough-for-offspring_97865.jpg)
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
