"When one has extensively pondered about men,..." - Quote by Albert Camus
When one has extensively pondered about men, as a career or as a vocation, one sometimes feels nostalgic for primates. At least they do not have ulterior motives.
More by Albert Camus
“At 30 a man should know himself like the palm of his hand, know the exact number of his defects and qualities, know how far he can go, foretell his failures - be what he is. And, above all, accept these things.”
“And for all his life it would be kindness and love that made him cry, never pain or persecution, which on the contrary only reinforced his spirit and his resolution.”
“The most knowledgeable person in one domain may be the most ignorant in another.”
More on Human Nature
“Law of Contrariness: Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can. Having found them, we shall then hate them for it.”
“Nor dread nor hope attend a dying animal; a man awaits his end dreading and hoping all.”
“Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey 'people.' People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war... Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest.”
More on Motives
“Numberless arts appear foolish whose secret motives are most wise and weighty.”
“We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them.”
“Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!”