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About this quote

What does it mean?
Vertigo is not fear of falling but a desire to fall, a tempting emptiness that we defend against.
In plain terms
Vertigo is a lure to fall, not just fear of falling.
What can you take from it?
Desire to fail can be as strong as fear of failure.

Where it applies

  • creative block
  • risky decisions

Putting it to work

  • recognize the lure
  • strengthen self‑control

Questions to consider

  • What emptiness tempts you?
  • How do you guard against it?

Another view

Interpretation may be overly abstract for practical use.

More from Milan Kundera

  1. Anyone whose goal is 'something higher' must expect some day to suffer vertigo.

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  2. Dreaming is not merely an act of communication; it is also an aesthetic activity, a game of the imagination, a game that is a value in itself.

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  3. For the first few seconds, she was afraid he would throw her out because of the crude noises she was making, but then he put his arms around her. She was grate…

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