Key Lesson of the Camino (IMO) in a simple quote...

[simply B]

....found while I was doing other things but I thought a quick "drive-by" to the Forum to share might be appropriate.

“I cling like a miser to the freedom that disappears as soon as there is an excess of things.”

(Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays)

I honestly remember not liking having to read Camus a half-century ago. I may just have to re-read him to overcome that early prejudice.

 

[dick bird]

....found while I was doing other things but I thought a quick "drive-by" to the Forum to share might be appropriate.

“I cling like a miser to the freedom that disappears as soon as there is an excess of things.”

(Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays)

I honestly remember not liking having to read Camus a half-century ago. I may just have to re-read him to overcome that early prejudice.
[/FONT]

I don't think Camus wrote for fun, neither his own nor other people's. But some of his ideas are things we really need to think about, e.g. our purpose in life, our relation to society and others, so probably more rewarding to read as a mature adult. Seriously did my head in when I was a teenager though.

 

[SabsP]

....found while I was doing other things but I thought a quick "drive-by" to the Forum to share might be appropriate.

“I cling like a miser to the freedom that disappears as soon as there is an excess of things.”

(Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays)

I honestly remember not liking having to read Camus a half-century ago. I may just have to re-read him to overcome that early prejudice.

B

Thank you @simply B for bringing this great author /philosopher to our attention.
Like you I did not particular like/ understand Camus when I had to read him for French in secondary school but that was because I had to focus so hard on understanding the language that I did not have energy left for the content.
Beginning of Covid I then reread La Peste in translation and of course it was an eyeopener ( in regards to current affairs).

I can also recommend the biography from Olivier Todd about Camus.

 

[Priscilla NC]

I had similar experiences in high school, not really liking/understanding Camus. But then later I found this, which I read again from time to time:

"In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
]In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back."

 

[musicman]

Camus opened my mind to a different experience of the world nearly 60 years ago.

 

[dfox]

“I cling like a miser to the freedom that disappears as soon as there is an excess of things.”

(Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays)

Less is more!

 

[lalaone]

I second the biography by Olivier Todd. I can also recommend Camus's posthumously published autobiographical novel "The First Man." It deals with his childhood growing up in Algeria and is similar in tone and themes to these early lyrical essays. It's luminous.

 

[ChipFrazier]

....found while I was doing other things but I thought a quick "drive-by" to the Forum to share might be appropriate.

“I cling like a miser to the freedom that disappears as soon as there is an excess of things.”

(Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays)

I honestly remember not liking having to read Camus a half-century ago. I may just have to re-read him to overcome that early prejudice.

B

Simple. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

 

[cbacino]

....found while I was doing other things but I thought a quick "drive-by" to the Forum to share might be appropriate.

“I cling like a miser to the freedom that disappears as soon as there is an excess of things.”

(Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays)

I honestly remember not liking having to read Camus a half-century ago. I may just have to re-read him to overcome that early prejudice.

B

Living and working in half dozen countries disabused me of having so much “stuff.” And then I took to long-distance walking. 6000 miles later, even less “stuff.” My wife said what I have left is mostly fit for the dumpster.

 

[SEB2]

Thank you for sharing this @simply B. The exhortation used on posters produced by The Society of Friends to ‘Live more simply that others may simply live’ always struck a chord with me but also prompted guilt at my having too much ‘stuff’. Still lots of work to do to be a better human being ...

 

[Karlgrino]

Simple. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

hmmm...beg to disagree, that seems to make it all about you.
Instead: Treat others as they would like you to treat them.

 

[Bill905]

I too read Camus as a youth, and I appreciated annotated help! Some of his philosophy reminds me of another philosopher by the name of Lao Tzu who taught of another "Way", i.e. the Tao Te Ching. Some quotes from Lao Tzu can easily be applied to El Camino ... such as the oft quoted excerpt from Verse 64 which many people have translated as "Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". However, in terms of materialism and living simply, there are many other verses that cause me to think about my own "10,000 things" in relation to cultivating a higher spiritual calling. Recommended for reading and meditation. I can't tell you how many times I have read and re-read Verse 2. Look it up!

 

[susanawee]

....found while I was doing other things but I thought a quick "drive-by" to the Forum to share might be appropriate.

“I cling like a miser to the freedom that disappears as soon as there is an excess of things.”

(Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays)

I honestly remember not liking having to read Camus a half-century ago. I may just have to re-read him to overcome that early prejudice.

I think that you should "give him another go". He has written some really good and interesting books. Just my humble thoughts here.

 

[susanawee]

I don't think Camus wrote for fun, neither his own nor other people's. But some of his ideas are things we really need to think about, e.g. our purpose in life, our relation to society and others, so probably more rewarding to read as a mature adult. Seriously did my head in when I was a teenager though.

Same for me.

 

[bubba]

I had similar experiences in high school, not really liking/understanding Camus. But then later I found this, which I read again from time to time:

"In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
]In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back."

Thank you, Priscilla, I needed that, you opened my closed heart!

 

[WalkingJane]

So many thoughtful posts. Thanks to each/all of you!

 

[simply B]

I thought I remembered a thread of "Inspirational Quotes" but I could not find it.

Anyway, this came across my view today while I was missing the Camino....badly.

Enjoy!

"Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors
which it passes to a row of ancient trees.
You look, and soon these two worlds both leave you
one part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth.

leaving you, not really belonging to either,
not so hopelessly dark as that house that is silent,
not so unswervingly given to the eternal as that thing
that turns to a star each night and climbs--

leaving you (it is impossible to untangle the threads)
your own life, timid and standing high and growing,
so that, sometimes blocked in, sometimes reaching out,
one moment your life is a stone in you, and the next, a star."

"Sunset" by Rainer Maria Rilke

 

[mspath]

Indeed impermanence makes each moment very special as Rainer Maria Rilke suggested in his 9th Duino Elegy, (translated by
Stephen Mitchell).

"...But to have been,
This once, completely, even if only once:
To have been at one with the earth, seems beyond undoing."

 

[C clearly]

I thought I remembered a thread of "Inspirational Quotes" but I could not find it.

Perhaps it was the thread to which these 2 posts have been moved.

 

[simply B]

Perhaps it was the thread to which these 2 posts have been moved.

Nah, there was another thread...maybe 8-10 years ago? This will do though. Thank you @C clearly !

B