Burden Quote by Voltaire
“I have wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life. This ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our more stupid melancholy propensities, for is there anything more stupid than to be eager to go on carrying a burden which one would gladly throw away, to loathe one’s very being and yet to hold it fast, to fondle the snake that devours us until it has eaten our hearts away?”
About This Quote
The speaker acknowledges persistent suicidal thoughts yet remains attached to life, highlighting a paradoxical love‑hate relationship with existence and the tendency to cling to suffering despite its destructiveness.
In simple terms: Life’s paradox of love and self‑destruction.
Key Takeaway
We often cling to pain even when we know it harms us.
Themes
existentialism
self‑destruction
paradox
melancholy
resilience
Mood
melancholic
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- deep depression
- existential crisis
- therapeutic reflection
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
human condition
psychological conflict
attachment
mortality
Practical Applications
- mental‑health counseling
- literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes us cling to harmful states?
- How can love for life coexist with suicidal thoughts?
