Rainer Maria Rilke — Quote from The Book of Hours
“Death is large. We are in his realm, laughing. When we think ourselves in the midst of life, he dares to weep in the midst of us.”
The Book of Hours (1905)
Concepts: mortality, meaning, absurd
Resonant Quotes
- “Since we're all going to die, it's obvious that when and how don't matter.” — Albert Camus, The Stranger Both authors grapple with death's omnipresence, but where Camus uses mortality to justify indifference toward life's ...
- “The darker the night, the brighter the stars. The deeper the grief, the close...” — Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment Both poets recognize death's omnipresence within life itself, with Dostoevsky seeing divine closeness in grief and Ri...
- “What was life? It was warmth, the warmth generated by a form-preserving insta...” — Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain Both authors recognize death as not life's opposite but its intimate companion—Rilke portraying death as present with...
- “There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Ju...” — Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus Both quotes grapple with death's omnipresence in life—Camus frames it as a philosophical choice while Rilke presents ...
- “The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One m...” — Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus Both confront mortality's omnipresence in human experience—Camus finding joy despite death's inevitability, Rilke rec...
- “People never change their lives, that in any case one life was as good as ano...” — Albert Camus, The Stranger Both quotes explore the human condition's fundamental constraints—Camus through the futility of life changes and Rilk...
- “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort o...” — Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science Both confront the overwhelming presence of mortality and meaninglessness, with Nietzsche emphasizing humanity's activ...
- “Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness ...” — Jean-Paul Sartre, Nausea Both confront the overwhelming presence of mortality in existence — Sartre through rational absurdity, Rilke through ...