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About this quote

What does it mean?
Watts adds humorous, practical questions to Camus' serious one about suicide, framing life's challenges pragmatically.
In plain terms
Life raises many serious questions besides whether to live.
What can you take from it?
Philosophy needs practical grounding.

Where it applies

  • philosophical debate
  • coping with crisis
  • group discussion

Putting it to work

  • ask practical questions
  • find humor in life
  • plan ahead

Questions to consider

  • What matters most now?
  • How do you cope?

Another view

Serious existential questions still matter deeply.

More from Alan Watts

  1. Life is a game, the first rule of which is that IT IS NOT A GAME.

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  2. There is obviously a place in life for a religious attitude for awe and astonishment at existence. That is also a basis for respect for existence. We don't hav…

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  3. Zen ... does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.

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