Ambivalence Quote by Simone de Beauvoir
““It has never been very easy for me to live, though I am always very happy—maybe because I want so much to be happy. I like so much to live and I hate the idea of dying one day. And then I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life, I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends and to have loneliness, to work much and write good books, and to travel and enjoy myself, to be selfish and to be unselfish... You see, it is difficult to get all which I want. And then when I do not succeed I get mad with anger.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Second Sex, Simone de Beauvoir, 1949
The speaker expresses a deep yearning for a full, intense life, craving both masculine and feminine experiences, social connections, solitude, productivity, and joy, while recognizing the frustration of unmet desires.
In simple terms: Desires for a rich, balanced life clash with reality, causing anger when unfulfilled.
Key Takeaway
Accept limits, channel desire into purposeful action.
Themes
identity
desire
balance
frustration
gender
existence
Mood
conflicted
hopeful
determined
Type
philosophical
reflective
motivational
When to use this quote
- career ambition
- creative writing
- travel planning
- relationship building
- personal growth
Key Concepts
existentialism
authenticity
self-actualization
Questions to Reflect On
- What truly fulfills you beyond external achievements?
- How can you reconcile opposing desires?
A Different Perspective
The pursuit of everything can lead to burnout and conflict with personal values.
