What do you think of this text by Camus?

[Julie07]

This is a speech given by Albert Camus when he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Short excerpt



"Each generation doubtless feels called upon to reform the world. Mine knows that it will not reform it, but its task is perhaps even greater. It consists in preventing the world from destroying itself. Heir to a corrupt history, in which are mingled fallen revolutions, technology gone mad, dead gods, and worn-out ideologies, where mediocre powers can destroy all yet no longer know how to convince, where intelligence has debased itself to become the servant of hatred and oppression, this generation starting from its own negations has had to re-establish, both within and without, a little of that which constitutes the dignity of life and death. "

[MisterWack]

Is this guy a time traveller? Jesus.

“technology gone mad”…. “where mediocre powers can destroy all yet no longer know how to convince”… “where intelligence has debased itself to become the servant of hatred and oppression”

And the part of, “Mine knows that it will not reform it, but its task is perhaps even greater.” scares me since I feel as though it is important to get reform off the ground, while finding it hard to get a footing on it when we must.

Mr. Camus, I know well earned the Nobel Prize in Literature for that well put together speech. Thanks for sharing.

[lightbulb27]

went a bit over my head at the end. It's a bit... frightening in context...

I don't think we have learned anything from history, we are less spiritually grounded than ever. What... will hold us to core human values of decency, if compelled against each other for survival?

[RyanEC]

I would agree to an extent.
Each generation thinks they will change things but it’s never as much as they thought.
Each generation becomes the establishment and keeps the status quo more or less.

[RavVid]

Given his times, his views seem understandable. WW2 then the Cold War with Atomic bombs.

[AviatorTom]

I studied works by Camus in high school, in its native French. He is an interesting person, though perhaps a bit overly negative.