The Myth of Sisyphus
by Albert Camus
"The Myth of Sisyphus" by Albert Camus explores the absurdity of human existence and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. Through the allegory of Sisyphus, condemned to eternally roll a boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down, Camus argues that one must embrace the struggle itself as a source of personal meaning and defiance against the absurd. Ultimately, he concludes that acknowledging the absurdity of life can lead to a form of liberation and acceptance.
10 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Myth of Sisyphus, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.
There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide.
The absurd is born out of this confrontation between the human call and the unreasonable silence of the world.
Life can be magnificent and overwhelming—that is the whole tragedy. Without beauty, love, or danger, it would be easy to live.
I leave you my portrait. I am the one who has never been able to make a decision.
One must imagine Sisyphus as a happy man.
In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
To be happy, we must not be so. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort.
Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.
The greatest gift is the ability to forget—to forget the bad things and focus on the good.