First, what do we mean by anguish? Existentialists like to say that man is in anguish. This is what they mean: a man who commits himself, and who realizes that he is not only the individual that he chooses to be, but also a legislator choosing at the same time what humanity as a whole should be, cannot help but be aware of his own full and profound responsibility. True, many people do not appear especially anguished, but we maintain that they are merely hiding their anguish or trying not to face it.
Ugh with the “everybody must necessarily think like I do, and I’ll hold them accountable for it.” I’ve been aware of this responsibility all my life, and I can assure you it has never brought me anguish. I felt up to the task. My anguish doesn’t come from my responsibility, it comes from having to take others’ responsibilities, too, and not being up to that task for long enough.
