"An intellectual is someone whose mind watches itself." (1)
Albert Camus, Carnets, 1935–42 (1962)
Learning and questioning are keys to knowledge. When we are faced with flippant, painful and bitter prospects of existence in life, our critical awareness, even if it comes belated, should urgently begin to "watch our minds" (Albert Camus) as we seek to learn step by step from people, life and time. Our critical awareness is going to help us make up our minds and at the same time energize our hearts so that a certain good conduct and a certain good descipline in our lives are finally established.
It is to be hoped that the expected result, based upon this attitude, this preference, coupled strongly with arduous work, not mere talk, is such that we start opening our eyes, awakening ourselves and becoming aware of the necessity to look for the way out. We begin to carefully and sustainably refuse to be manipulated and deceived. When this is understood, there is no need to remind ourselves afterward that the "sheep spirit" and the "cheap optimism" we used to deploy and cherish and the "comfort zone" we used to valorize must thus vanish without any sort of guilt or regret from our part. A good, classy, graceful, skillful but not arrogant life is ahead of us soon enough.
- Chokri Omri
(1) Oxford Essential Quotations (4 ed.), edited by Susan Ratcliffe and published by Oxford University (2016).
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