The Fall

by Albert Camus

I am well aware that an addiction to silk underwear does not necessarily imply that one’s feet are dirty.

Have you noticed that death alone awakens our feelings?

That’s the way man is, cher monsieur. He has two faces: he can’t love without self-love.

Heavvyyyy

The truth is that every intelligent man, as you know, dreams of being a gangster and of ruling over society by force alone.

Their guilt made me eloquent because I was not its victim.

You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.

The act of love, for instance, is a confession.

Heavyyy

Martyrs, cher ami, must choose between being forgotten, mocked, or made use of. As for being understood—never!

we are always ready to judge as we are to fornicate.

the moment I grasped that there was something to judge in me, I realized that there was in them an irresistible vocation for judgment.

But to be happy it is essential not to be too concerned with others.

Happy and judged, or absolved and wretched.

People hasten to judge in order not to be judged themselves.

Only, the confession of my crimes allows me to begin again lighter in heart and to taste a double enjoyment, first of my nature and secondly of a charming repentance.