“Why kid ourselves, people have nothing to say to one another, they all talk about their own troubles and nothing else. Each man for himself, the earth for us all. They try to unload their unhappiness on someone else when making love, they do their damnedest, but it doesn't work, they keep it all, and then they start all over again, trying to find a place for it. "Your pretty, Mademoiselle," they say. And life takes hold of them again until the next time, and then they try the same little gimmick. "You're very pretty, Mademoiselle..."And in between they boast that they've succeeded in getting rid of their unhappiness, but everyone knows it's not true and they've simply kept it all to themselves. Since at the little game you get uglier and more repulsive as you grow older, you can't hope to hide your unhappiness, your bankruptcy, any longer. In the end your features are marked with that hideous grimace that takes twenty, thrity years or more to climb form your belly to your face. That's all a man is good for, that and no more, a grimace that he takes a whole lifetime to compose. The grimace a man would need to express his true soul without losing any of it is so heavy and complicated that he doesn't always succeed in completing it.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Louis-Ferdinand Celine, the author reflects on the superficiality of human interaction and the struggles individuals face in trying to unload their unhappiness onto others. Celine suggests that people often try to find solace through relationships and physical intimacy, only to realize that their unhappiness cannot be truly shared or eliminated in this way. The author portrays a bleak and cynical view of human nature, illustrating how individuals ultimately end up carrying their burdens alone. The concept of the "hideous grimace" that emerges over time serves as a metaphor for the internal struggles and emotional baggage that people accumulate throughout their lives. Overall, Celine's words highlight the complexity and weight of human emotions and the challenges of expressing one's true self in a world filled with facade and pretense.
Modern Relevance
The passage touches upon themes of superficiality, loneliness, and the struggle to find genuine connection in a world filled with distractions and self-absorption. In today's society, where social media and technology often serve as barriers to authentic communication, Celine's words serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of truly connecting with others. The facade of happiness and success that many people present masks a deeper sense of unhappiness and emptiness that can only be addressed through genuine human connection and self-reflection.
Example of Usage
In this passage, the author expresses a bleak and cynical view of human relationships and the struggle to find happiness. The characters in the text are portrayed as constantly trying to mask their true emotions and unhappiness, ultimately leading to a facade that becomes more evident as they age. The imagery used in this excerpt underscores the idea that true contentment and fulfillment are nearly impossible to achieve in a world consumed by self-centeredness and superficial interactions.
Reflection Questions:
Louis-Ferdinand Celine's quote paints a bleak picture of human interaction and the struggle to truly express oneself. Reflect on the following questions:
- Do you agree with Celine's assessment that people often only talk about their own troubles and struggle to truly connect with others?
- How do you think societal pressures and expectations contribute to individuals keeping their unhappiness to themselves?
- In what ways do you see individuals trying to mask their unhappiness, whether through relationships, work, or other means?
- Do you think it is possible for individuals to fully express their true selves without fear of judgment or rejection? If so, how can this be achieved?
- How can we as individuals work towards creating more authentic and meaningful connections with others in a society that often encourages surface-level interactions?
Similar quotes
“When you're unhappy, you get to pay a lot of attention to yourself. And you get to take yourself oh so very seriously. Your truly happy people, which is to say, your people who truly like themselves, they don't think about themselves very much. Your unhappy person resents it when you try to cheer him up, because that means he has to stop dwellin' on himself and start payin' attention to the universe. Unhappiness is the ultimate form of self-indulgence.”
“It's no good trying to get rid of your own aloneness. You've got to stick to it all your life. Only at times, at times, the gap will be filled in. At times! But you have to wait for the times. Accept your own aloneness and stick to it, all your life. And then accept the times when the gap is filled in, when they come. But they've got to come. You can't force them.”
“To borrow against the trust someone has placed in you costs nothing at first. You get away with it, you take a little more and a little more until there is no more to draw on. Oddly, your hands should be full with all that taking but when you open them there’s nothing there.”
“Unless you have found something in life to live for that is more important to you than your own life, you will always be a slave. For all another man needs to do is threaten to take your life to get you to do his bidding.”
“He told me that one of the reasons people are so unhappy is they don't talk to themselves. He said you have to keep a conversation going with yourself throughout your life to see how you're doing, to keep your focus, to remain your own friend. He told me that he talked to himself all the time, and that it helped him to grow stronger and better everyday.”