Nausea Life, Consciousness, Existence Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

The Nausea has not left me and I don't believe it will leave me soon; but I no longer have to bear it, it is no longer an illness or a passing fit: it is I. (25.1)

Antoine claims to make peace with his Nausea when he admits that the sickness is a fundamental part of who he is. For him, the feeling of Nausea is directly connected to his ability to think as a human being. The moment you start wondering about the meaning of your own existence, Nausea is where you're going to end up.

Quote #5

Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness and dies by chance. (25.12)

Whoa there, Antoine. You're starting to sound a little depressed. Apparently, things are born with no reason and they die out of total randomness. Well that's just peachy.

Quote #6

That little sense annoyed me: I could not understand it, even if I could have stayed leaned against the gate for a century; I had learned all I could know about existence. (25.15)

Eventually, Antoine becomes convinced that he has learned all he will ever know about existence. He knows that it's a completely indifferent thing and that humanity's struggle for meaning appears pathetic and absurd once you realize just how cold and uncaring the world of things actually is.