The Life Worth Living
by August Turak , in Uncategorized
"Man is a mystery. If you spend your whole life trying to puzzle it out do not say you wasted your time. I occupy myself with that mystery because I want to be a man."Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote this in a letter to his brother when he was just 17. I have had this quote pasted to every fridge I've rented or owned since I was about 20.
I especially love that Dostoevsky is arguing that the path to becoming an authentic human being lies in trying to solve what may very well be an insoluble mystery.
Secondly I am astounded that a boy so young could realize that "becoming a man" is the highest aspiration one can aspire to. Though in a few short years he was destined to become a famous writer, he does not aspire to that. All he wants is to become a man.
The rest will take care of itself.