Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Life is a contradiction between extreme passion and necessary moderation.
In plain terms
Life balances wild energy with steady restraint.
What can you take from it?
Accept the contradictions of life.

Where it applies

  • personal philosophy
  • stress management
  • living well

Putting it to work

  • embrace paradox
  • find balance
  • accept complexity

Questions to consider

  • Can you hold two opposing truths?
  • How do you balance passion and moderation?

Another view

Some seek absolute consistency rather than balance.

More from Albert Camus

  1. Life can be magnificent and overwhelming - That is its whole tragedy. Without beauty, love, or danger it would almost be easy to live.

    Permalink to quote #165
  2. Live to the point of tears.

    Permalink to quote #167
  3. Liberty ultimately seems to me, for societies and for individuals, for labor and for culture, the supreme good that governs all others.

    Permalink to quote #164

Related quotes

  1. My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But, ah, my foes, and, oh, my friends - It gives a lovely light.

    Edna St. Vincent MillayEdna St. Vincent Millay quote #2
  2. Any man who concentrates his energies totally on one passion is, by definition, someone who hurts the people close to him.

    Arsene WengerArsene Wenger quote #13
  3. Men who never get carried away should be.

    Malcolm ForbesMalcolm Forbes quote #25