Albert Camus was a French philosopher, author and journalist. He was the second-youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44. Born in Algeria to French parents, he spent most of his childhood in a poor neighborhood. He studied philosophy at the University of Algiers. He joined the French Resistance when the Germans invaded France during World War II. Camus was politically active and opposed the Soviet Union’s ideology of totalitarianism.
Albert Camus was a moralist, a philosophical school of thought which believed in the need for morals and ethics in the society. His philosophical views contributed to absurdism, the conflict between men and the universe as the former tries to find value and meaning in life in an irrational and chaotic world. Camus died at the age of 46 on January 4, 1960, in a car accident. His philosophical writings are still influential and studied throughout the world.
1 No matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger, something better, pushing right back. -Albert Camus
The world is a cruel and tough place to live in. It will routinely throw various hurdles at you and try to pull you down. But to survive, you need to have the courage and strength to never give up no matter how hard it may seem.
2 Life can be magnificent and overwhelming – that is the whole tragedy. Albert Camus
Life is filled with contradictions and ironies. It is beautiful but at the same time, cruel. There’s always good things but tragedies as well, all around you. It is this duality that makes it worthwhile.
3 When the soul suffers too much, it develops a taste for misfortune. -Albert Camus
Constant suffering and tragedies only make you stronger. You almost become numb to it. It toughens your mind and trains you for whatever is yet to come your way.
4 There is no sun without shadow, and it is essential to know the night. -Albert Camus
Darkness and light are just two sides of the same coin. Where there’s light, there are always shadows. You cannot appreciate one without understanding the other.
5 In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. -Albert Camus
It is in times of trouble that you are confronted with your own strength. When you are faced with darkness, you can find within you goodness and light if you choose to do so.
6 Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken. -Albert Camus
Those who can change themselves according to the times are the ones who last the longest. No amount of tragedies can destroy them.
7 I know that man is capable of great deeds, but if he isn’t capable of great emotion, well, he leaves me cold. -Albert Camus
Even if you have achieved all that there is to achieve, if you are empty of emotions, all of that amounts to nothing. Love, compassion, empathy and joy are all emotions that define you and make you human.
8 Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is. -Albert Camus
In the endeavour for greatness, we often lose ourselves in the process. We look up to those who we revere but end up losing our own identity. Do not be ashamed to be who you are for that is what sets you apart.
9 Without beauty, love, or danger it would almost be easy to live. -Albert Camus
All of the moments, the good as well as the bad, is what makes life interesting. Without these, life would have been monotonous and meaningless.
10 You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. -Albert Camus
Happiness cannot be found if you search. It comes unannounced and when you least expect it. Live in the moment and you’ll always be happy.
11 Real generosity towards the future lies in giving all to the present. -Albert Camus
The future is uncertain. There’s no real point in worrying about what life will throw at you. Live in the present and put in all your efforts to make the best out of today.
12 Mother used to say that however miserable one is, there’s always something to be thankful for. -Albert Camus
No matter how tough and tragic life gets, there’s always something that you can be grateful for. You friends and family, your health or even the fact that you are simply alive are blessings for which you need to be thankful for.
13 Good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding. -Albert Camus
However good your intentions are, if it comes with a lack of compassion and understanding, it has the potential to do more harm than good. Compassion and empathy are important defining traits of character.
14 There is not love of life without despair about life. -Albert Camus
When you’ve been in the deepest depths of despair and sorrow, you see life with a newfound perspective. You learn to love it despite all its complexities and tragedies.
15 You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. -Albert Camus
The search for the meaning of life is a fruitless endeavour undertaken by those who fail to notice the simple beauties of life. Learn to live in the moment and the meaning of your life will dawn upon you on its own.
Top 15 Quotes by French Philosopher Albert Camus
1. No matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger, something better, pushing right back. -Albert Camus
2. Life can be magnificent and overwhelming – that is the whole tragedy. Albert Camus
3. When the soul suffers too much, it develops a taste for misfortune. -Albert Camus
4. There is no sun without shadow, and it is essential to know the night. -Albert Camus
5. In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. -Albert Camus
6. Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken. -Albert Camus
7. I know that man is capable of great deeds, but if he isn’t capable of great emotion, well, he leaves me cold. -Albert Camus
8. Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is. -Albert Camus
9. Without beauty, love, or danger it would almost be easy to live. -Albert Camus
10. You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. -Albert Camus
11. Real generosity towards the future lies in giving all to the present. -Albert Camus
12. Mother used to say that however miserable one is, there’s always something to be thankful for. -Albert Camus
13. Good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding. -Albert Camus
14. There is not love of life without despair about life. -Albert Camus
15. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. -Albert Camus
