Morality When It Is Formal Devours Albert Camus

Morality when it is formal, devours life is what Albert Camus wrote in his book-length essay titled “The Rebel”.

The original line in French is:

“La morale , quand elle est formelle , dévore.”

This quote is mentioned in the sub-paragraph “The Religion of Virtue“.

Camus quoted Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just saying morality is stronger than tyrants.

And it was morality that killed Louis XVI.

He went on to say all form of disobedience to law is because a lack of virtue in the obstinate citizen.

I think what Camus was saying is that formal morality can be oppressive to people.

Remember Albert Camus wrote about morality in his Notebook Volume One:

“If I had to write a book on morality, it would have a hundred pages and ninety-nine would be blank. On the last page I should write: “I recognize only one duty, and that is to love.” – Albert Camus

(Notebooks: 1935-1942: Translated From The French And With A Preface And Notes By Philip. Thody, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1963, Notebook I, May 1935-September 1937, Thursday, September 9, P. 54) source

(The quote is also found here.)

So, what say you?

Morality when it is formal, devours?

Below I have gathered a great selection of Albert Camus quotes taken from his 1951 essay that focused on diagnosing the metaphysical significance of rebellion and revolution.

The book “The Rebel” (French: L’Homme Révolté) was written by Albert Camus.

As I have mentioned above, it is about the metaphysical and the historical development of rebellion and revolution in societies.

In this book, Camus mentions a couple of famous writers and artists, including Epicurus, Lucretius, the Marquis de Sade, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Friedrich Nietzsche, Max Stirner, André Breton and others.

According to Albert Camus, a rebel is a man who says no, but whose refusal does not imply a renunciation.

The rebel is also a man who says yes, from the moment he makes his first gesture of rebellion.

French philosopher, author, and journalist Camus states that despair, like the absurd, has opinions and desires about everything in general and nothing in particular.

Silence expresses this attitude very well.

In this essay, Albert Camus argues that an act of rebellion is not, essentially, an egoistic act.

The Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature notes that rebellion does not arise only, and necessarily, among the oppressed, but that it can also be caused by the mere spectacle of oppression of which someone else is the victim.

You can read all this interesting stuff in this book which was published way back in 1951.

Morality When It Is Formal Devours

Now, let’s go through my selection of profound Albert Camus The Rebel quotes.

“…philosophy, which can be used for any purpose – even for transforming murderers into judges.” – Albert Camus

“…la philosophie qui peut servir à tout, même à changer les meurtriers en juges.” (French)

(The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, With A Foreword by Sir Herbert Read, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: First Vintage International Edition 1991, Introduction, P. 6)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Introduction, P. 3)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 11)

(The quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes D’Albert Camus, Tome III, Notices De Roger Grenier, Paris: Aux Éditions Du Club De L’Honnête Homme, 1983, L’Homme Révolté, Introduction, P. 27)

“Once crime was as solitary as a cry of protest; now it is as universal as science. Yesterday it was put on trial; today it determines the law.” – Albert Camus

“Il était solitaire comme le cri, le voilà universel comme la science. Hier jugé, il légifère aujourd’hui.” (French)

(The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, With a Foreword by Sir Herbert Read, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: First Vintage International Edition 1991, Introduction, P. 6)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, New York: Vintage Books, 1957, Introduction, P. 3)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 11)

(The quote in French is also found in: Oeuvres Complètes, Tome 3, Édition Publiée Sous La Direction De Jacqueline Lévi-Valensi, Paris: Gallimard, 2006, L’Homme Révolté, Introduction, P. 344)

“Evil and virtue are mere chance or caprice.” – Albert Camus

“Malice et vertu sont hasard ou caprice.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, New York: Vintage Books, 1957, Introduction, P. 5)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 13) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, Introduction, P. 15) source

“Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.” – Albert Camus

“L’homme est la seule créature qui refuse d’être ce qu’elle est.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, Introduction, P. 11) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 19) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, Introduction, P. 22) source

“What is a rebel? A man who says no.” – Albert Camus

“Qu’est-ce qu’un homme révolté ? Un homme qui dit non.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, I. The Rebel, P. 13) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, I, L’Homme Révolté, P. 21) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, Introduction, P. 25) source

“With rebellion, awareness is born.” – Albert Camus

“La conscience vient au jour avec la révolte.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, I. The Rebel, P. 15) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, I. L’Homme Révolte, P. 23) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, I. L’Homme Révolté, P. 27) source

“In order to exist, man must rebel, but rebellion must respect the limit it discovers in itself…” – Albert Camus

“Pour être, l’homme doit se révolter, mais sa révolte doit respecter la limite…” (French)

(The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, With A Foreword by Sir Herbert Read, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf: First Vintage International Edition 1991, Part One, The Rebel, P. 15) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, I. The Rebel, P. 22) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, I. L’Homme Révolte, P. 30) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, I L’Homme Révolte, P. 372) source

“Nihilism is not only despair and negation, but above all the desire to despair and to negate.” – Albert Camus

“Le nihilisme n’est pas seulement désespoir et négation, mais surtout volonté de désespérer et de nier.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, II. Metaphysical Rebellion, The Rejection Of Salvation, PP. 57-58)

(The second part of the quote is found .)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. La Révolte Métaphysique, Le Refus Du Salut, P. 66) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, II. La Révolte Métaphysique, Le Refus Du Salut, P. 78) source

“Without law there is no freedom.” – Albert Camus

“Sans loi, point de liberté.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, Part Two Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, Nietzsche and Nihilism, P. 71) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, II. La Révolte Métaphysique, L’Affirmation Absolue, Nietzsche Et Le Nihilisme, P. 79) source

“Every rebellion implies some kind of unity.” – Albert Camus

“Toute révolte suppose une unité.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, III. Historical Rebellion, The Regicides, The Terror, P. 125) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Les Régicides, La Terreur, P. 135) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Les Régicides. La Terreur, P. 159) source

“Absolute freedom mocks at justice. Absolute justice denies freedom. To be fruitful, the two ideas must find their limits in each other.” – Albert Camus

“La liberté absolue raille la justice. La justice absolue nie la liberté. Pour être fécondes, les deux notions doivent trouver, l’une dans l’autre, leur limite.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1956, V. Thought At The Meridian, Rebellion and Murder, Historical Murder, P. 291) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Revolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 302)

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 349) source

“… nothing can discourage the appetite for divinity in the heart of man.” – Albert Camus

“… rien ne peut décourager l’appétit de divinité au cœur de l’homme.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961, III. Historical Rebellion, The Deicides, P. 147) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Les Déicides, P. 158) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Les Déicides, P. 185) source

“All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the State.” – Albert Camus

“Toutes les révolutions modernes ont abouti à un renforcement de l’État.” (French)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 187) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 214) source

“One leader, one people, signifies one master and millions of slaves.” – Albert Camus

“Un seul chef, un seul peuple, signifie un seul maître et des millions d’esclaves.” (French)

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 220) source

“More and more, revolution has found itself delivered into the hands of its bureaucrats and doctrinaires on the one hand, and to the enfeebled and bewildered masses on the other.” – Albert Camus

“De plus en plus, la révolution s’est trouvée livrée à ses bureaucrates et à ses doctrinaires d’une part, à des masses affaiblies et désorientées d’autre part.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, III. Historical Rebellion, State Terrorism And Irrational Terror, The Failing Of The Prophecy, P. 216) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’État Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, L’échec De La Prophétie, P. 226) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’État Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, L’échec De La Prophétie, P. 259) source

“To those who despair of everything, not reason but only passion can provide a faith… ” – Albert Camus

“À ceux qui désespèrent de tout, ce ne sont pas les raisonnements qui peuvent rendre une foi, mais la seule passion… “ (French)

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Le Terrorisme D’etat Et La Terreur Irrationnelle, P. 223) source

“Methods of thought which claim to give the lead to our world in the name of revolution have become, in reality, ideologies of consent and not of rebellion.” – Albert Camus

“Les pensées qui prétendent mener notre monde au nom de la révolution sont devenues en réalité des idéologies de consentement, non de révolte.” (French)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 257) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 293) source

“Revolution, in order to be creative, cannot do without either a moral or metaphysical rule to balance the insanity of history.” – Albert Camus

“La révolution pour être créatrice ne peut se passer d’une règle, morale ou métaphysique, qui équilibre le délire historique.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1957, III. Historical Rebellion, Rebellion and Revolution, P. 251) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 261) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 309) source

“If man wants to become God, he arrogates to himself the power of life or death over others.” – Albert Camus

“Si l’homme veut se faire Dieu, il s’arroge le droit de vie ou de mort sur les autres.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, III. Historical Rebellion, Rebellion and Revolution, P. 246) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 256) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 292) source

“… instead of killing and dying in order to produce the being that we are not, we have to live and let live in order to create what we are.” – Albert Camus

“… qu’au lieu de tuer et mourir pour produire l’être que nous ne sommes pas, nous avons à vivre et faire vivre pour créer ce que nous sommes.” (French)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 262) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 309) source

(The second part of the quote is found here.)

“Every revolutionary ends by becoming either an oppressor or a heretic.” – Albert Camus

“Tout révolutionnaire finit en oppresseur ou en hérétique.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1956, III. Historical Rebellion, Rebellion and Revolution, P. 249) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 259) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, III. A Révolte Historique, Révolte Et Révolution, P. 296) source

“The French Revolution gave birth to no artists but only to a great journalist, Desmoulins, and to a clandestine writer, Sade.” – Albert Camus

“La Révolution française ne fait naître aucun artiste, mais seulement un grand journaliste, Desmoulins, et un écrivain clandestin, Sade.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, IV. Rebellion And Art, P. 253) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, IV. Révolte En Art, P. 264) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, IV. Révolte En Art, P. 313) source

“Men are never really willing to die except for the sake of freedom: therefore they do not believe in dying completely.” – Albert Camus

“Le hommes ne sont jamais bien morts que pour la liberté: ils ne croyaient pas alors mourir tout à fait.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1957, V. Thought At The Meridian, Rebellion And Murder, Historical Murder, P. 291) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Révolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 302)

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Révolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 349) source

“We all carry within us our places of exile, our crimes, and our ravages. But our task is not to unleash them on the world; it is to fight them in ourselves and in others.” – Albert Camus

“Nous portons tous en nous nos bagnes, nos crimes etnos ravages. Mais notre tâche n’est pas de les déchaîner à travers le monde; elle est de les combattre en nous-mêmes et dans les autres.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, V. Thought At The Meridian, Moderation And Excess, Thought At The Meridian, P. 301) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 313) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1958, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 372) source

(The second part of the quote is found here.)

“All the unhappiness of human beings springs from the hope… ” – Albert Camus

“Tout le malheur des hommes vient de l’espérance… “ (French)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. A Révolte Métaphysique, Les Fils De Cain, P. 38) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1958, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 47) source

“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” – Albert Camus

“La vraie générosité envers l’avenir consiste à tout donner au présent.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, V. Thought At The Meridian, Beyond Nihilism, P. 304) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Au Delà Du Nihilisme, P. 316) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, French & European Publications, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Au Delà Du Nihilisme, P. 376) source

“Absolute justice is achieved by the suppression of all contradiction: therefore it destroys freedom. The revolution to achieve justice, through freedom, ends by aligning them against each other.” – Albert Camus

“La justice absolue passe par la suppression de toute contradiction : elle détruit la liberté . La révolution pour la justice, par la liberté, finit par les dresser l’une contre l’autre.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1957, V. Thought At The Meridian, Beyond Nihilism, P. 288) source

(The second part of the quote is found here.)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Révolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 298) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Révolte Et Meurtre, Le Meurtre Historique, P. 345) source

“Moderation is not the opposite of rebellion. Rebellion in itself is moderation, and it demands, defends, and re-creates it throughout history and its eternal disturbances.” – Albert Camus

“La mesure n’est pas le contraire de la révolte. C’est la révolte qui est la mesure, qui l’ordonne, la défend et la recrée à travers l’histoire et ses désordres.” (French)

(The second part of the quote is found here.)

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, PP. 312-313) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1958, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 372) source

“Every ideology is contrary to human psychology.” – Albert Camus

“Toute idéologie se constitue contre la psychologie.” (French)

(The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: First Vintage International Edition, 1991, III. Historical Rebellion, The Regicides, The New Gospel) source

(The quote is aso found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus Translated By Anthony Bower, Vintage Books, 1984, Part Three Historical Rebellion, The Regicides, The New Gospel, P. 116) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté by Albert Camus, Paris : Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. La Révote Historique, Les Régicides, Le Nouvel Évangile, P. 125) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. La Révote Historique, Les Régicides, Le Nouvel Évangile, P. 148) source

“To abandon oneself to principles is really to die – and to die for an impossible love which is the contrary of love.” – Albert Camus

“S’abandonner à eux, c’est mourir, en vérité, et c’est mourir d’un amour impossible qui est le contraire de l’amour.” (French)

(The Rebel An Essay on Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of LHomme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: First Vintage International Edition, 1991, Part Three Historical Rebellion, Regicides, The Terror, P. 66) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel By Albert Camus, Penguin, 1971, III Historical Rebellion, The Regicides, The Terror, P. 99) source

(The quote in French is in: L’Homme Révolté By Albert Camus, Paris : Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. La Révolte Historique, Les Régicides, La Terreur, P. 139) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté by Albert Camus, Paris : Les Éditions Gallimard, 1966, III. La Révote Historique, Les Régicides, La Terreur, P. 160) source

“Every act of rebellion expresses a nostalgia for innocence and an appeal to the essence of being.” – Albert Camus

“Chaque révolte est nostalgie d’innocence et appel vers l’être.” (French)

(The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, III. Historical Rebellion, P. 105) source

(The quote is also found: The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 3 Historical Rebellion, P. 76) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III La Révolte Historique, P. 114) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1951, III La Révolte Historique, P. 133) source

“If we believe in nothing, if nothing has any meaning and if we can affirm no values whatsoever, then everything is possible and nothing has any importance.” – Albert Camus

“Si l’on ne croit à rien, si rien n’a de sens et si nous ne pouvons affirmer aucune valeur, tout est possible et rien n’a d’importance.” (French)

(The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, The Death Of Empedocles, Introduction, P. 5) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, With A Foreword by Sir Herbert Read, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: First Vintage International Edition 1991, The Death Of Empedocles, Introduction, P. 7) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 13) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, Introduction, P. 15) source

“Evil and virtue are mere chance or caprice.” – Albert Camus

“Malice et vertu sont hasard ou caprice.” (French)

(The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961, Introduction, P. 5) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 13) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, Introduction, P. 15) source

“…rebellion cannot exist without a strange form of love.” – Albert Camus

“…la révolte ne peut se passer d’un étrange amour.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 5 Thought At The Meridian, Beyond Nihilism, P. 268) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 5 Thought At The Meridian, Beyond Nihilism, P. 304) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi Au Delà Du Nihilisme, P. 316) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, V. La Pensée De Midi Au Delà Du Nihilisme, P. 375) source

“Beauty, no doubt, does not make revolutions. But a day will come when revolutions will have need of beauty.” – Albert Camus

“La beauté, sans doute, ne fait pas les révolutions. Mais un jour vient où les révolutions ont besoin d’elle.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Creation And Revolution, P. 241) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Creation And Revolution, P. 276) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, IV. Revolté En Art, Création Et Révolution, P. 288) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1963, IV. Revolté En Art, Création Et Révolution, P. 330) source

“Whatever we may do, excess will always keep its place in the heart of man, in the place where solitude is found. We all carry within us our places of exile, our crimes and our ravages.” – Albert Camus

“Quoi que nous fassions, la démesure gardera toujours sa place dans le coeur de l’homme, à l’endroit de la solitude. Nous portons tous en nous nos bagnes, nos crimes et nos ravages.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 5 Thought At The Meridian, Moderation And Excess, Thought At The Meridian, P. 265) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 313) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1963, V. La Pensée De Midi, Mesure Et Démesure, La Pensée De Midi, P. 361) source

“…our worst agonies come to an end one day.” – Albert Camus

“…nos pires tortures cesseront un jour.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Rebellion And The Novel, P. 227) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Rebellion And The Novel, P. 230) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, IV. Revolté En Art, Roman Et Révolte, P. 272) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1963, IV. Revolté En Art, Roman Et Révolte, P. 312) source

“One morning, after many dark nights of despair, an irrepressible longing to live will announce to us the fact that all is finished and that suffering has no more meaning than happiness.” – Albert Camus

“Un matin, après tant de désespoirs, une irrépressible envie de vivre nous annoncera que tout est fini et que la souffrance n’a pas plus de sens que le bonheur.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Rebellion And The Novel, P. 227) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Rebellion And The Novel, P. 230) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, IV. Revolté En Art, Roman Et Révolte, P. 272) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1963, IV. Revolté En Art, Roman Et Révolte, P. 312) source

“Those who love, friends and lovers, know that love is not only a blinding flash, but also a long and painful struggle in the darkness for the realization of definitive recognition and reconciliation.” – Albert Camus

“Ceux qui s’aiment, les amis, les amants, savent que l’amour n’est pas seulement une fulguration, niais aussi une longue et douloureuse lutte dans les ténèbres pour la reconnaissance et la réconciliation définitives.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 3 Historical Rebellion, Individual Terrorism, Three Of The Possessed, P. 130) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 3 Historical Rebellion, Individual Terrorism, Three Of The Possessed, P. 132) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. La Revolté Historique, Le Terrorisme Individuel, Trois Possédés, P. 171) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. La Revolté Historique, Le Terrorisme Individuel, Trois Possédés, P. 202) source

“Actual freedom has not increased in proportion to man’s awareness of it.” – Albert Camus

“La liberté de fait ne s’est pas accrue proportionnellement à la conscience que l’homme en a prise.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 1 The Rebel, P. 26) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, I L’Homme Révolté , P. 28) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, I L’Homme Révolté, P. 33) source

“A nihilist is not someone who believes in nothing, but someone who does not believe in what he sees.” – Albert Camus

“Le nihiliste n’est pas celui qui ne croit à rien, mais celui qui ne croit pas à ce qui est.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 61) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 61) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. La Revolté Métaphysique, L’Affirmation Absolue, P. 77) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, II. La Revolté Métaphysique, L’Affirmation Absolue, P. 93) source

“From the moment that man believes neither in God nor in immortal life, he becomes ‘responsible for everything alive, for everything that, born of suffering, is condemned to suffer from life.'” – Albert Camus

“À partir du moment où l’homme ne croit plus en Dieu, ni dans la vie immortelle, il devient « responsable de tout ce qui vit, de tout ce qui, né de la douleur, est voué à souffrir de la vie ».” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 62) source

(The quote is also found: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 62) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. La Revolté Métaphysique, L’Affirmation Absolue, P. 78) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1963, II. La Revolté Métaphysique, L’Affirmation Absolue, P. 93) source

“Atheism is humanism mediated by the suppression of religion, communism is humanism mediated by the suppression of private property.” – Albert Camus

“L’athéisme est l’humanisme médiatisé par la suppression de la religion, le communisme est l’humanisme médiatisé par la suppression de la propriété privée.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 3 Historical Rebellion, The Revolutionary Prophecy, P. 168) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 3 Historical Rebellion, The Revolutionary Prophecy, P. 200) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. La Revolté Historique, La Prophétie Révolutionnaire, PP. 210-211) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, III. La Revolté Historique, La Prophétie Révolutionnaire, P. 248) source

“It is not the nobility of rebellion which illuminates the world today, but nihilism.” – Albert Camus

“Ce n’est pas la révolte ni sa noblesse qui rayonnent aujourd’hui sur le monde, mais le nihilisme.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Nihilism And History, P. 74) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With An Afterword By Olivier Todd, Penguin UK, 2013, Ch. 2, Metaphysical Rebellion, Nihilism And History) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II La Révolte Métaphysique, Nihilisme Et Histoire, PP. 110) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, II La Révolte Métaphysique, Nihilisme Et Histoire, P. 128) source

“It is not sufficient to live, there must be a destiny which does not have to wait on death. It is therefore justifiable to say that man has an idea of a better world than this. But better does not mean different, it means unified.” – Albert Camus

“Il ne suffit pas de vivre, il faut une destinée, et sans attendre la mort. Il est donc juste de dire que l’homme a l’idée d’un monde meilleur que celui-ci. Mais meilleur ne veut Pas dire alors différent, meilleur veut dire unifié.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Rebellion And The Novel, P. 228) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Rebellion And The Novel, P. 262) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, IV Révolté En Art, Roman Et Révolte, P. 273) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, IV Révolté En Art, Roman Et Révolte, P. 314) source

“Morality has no faith in the world.” – Albert Camus

“La morale n’a pas foi au monde.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 59) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 59) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. La Révolté Métaphysique L’Affirmation Absolube, P. 75) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, II. La Révolté Métaphysique L’Affirmation Absolube, P. 90) source

“When man submits God to moral judgment, he kills Him in his own heart.” – Albert Camus

“Dès l’instant où l’homme soumet Dieu au jugement moral, il le tue en lui-même.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 57) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 57) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. La Révolté Métaphysique L’Affirmation Absolube, P. 70) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, II. La Révolté Métaphysique L’Affirmation Absolube, P. 84) source

“The world is divine because the world is illogical. That is why art alone, by being equally illogical, is capable of grasping it.” – Albert Camus

“Le monde est divin parce que le monde est gratuit. C’est pourquoi l’art seul, par son égale gratuité, est capable de l’appréhender.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 65) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, Absolute Affirmation, P. 65) source

(The quote in French is found in:L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. La Révolté Métaphysique L’Affirmation Absolube, P. 81) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, II. La Révolté Métaphysique, L’Affirmation Absolube, P. 96) source

“The blasphemy is reverent, since every blasphemy is, ultimately, a participation in holiness.” – Albert Camus

“Ce blasphème est révérencieux puisque tout blasphème, finalement, est participation au sacré.” (French)

(The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: First Vintage International Edition, 1991, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, The Rejection Of Salvation) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Ch. 2 Metaphysical Rebellion, The Rejection Of Salvation, P. 55) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, II. La Révolté Métaphysique Le Refus Du Salut, P. 63) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1966, II. La Révolté Métaphysique, Le Refus Du Salut, P. 77) source

“To say that life is absurd, the conscience must be alive.” – Albert Camus

“Pour, dire que la vie est absurde, la conscience a besoin d’être vivante.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Vintage Books, 1984, lntroduction, P. 6) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, Introduction, P. 14) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, Introduction, P. 17) source

“A creative period in art is determined by the order of a particular style applied to the disorder of a particular time. It gives form and formulae to contemporary passions.” – Albert Camus

“Une époque créatrice en art se définit par l’ordre d’un style appliqué au désordre d’un temps. Elle met en forme et en formules les passions des contemporains.” (French)

(The Rebel By Albert Camus, Translated By Anthony Bower, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, Penguin Books Ltd., 1951, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Creation And Revolution, P. 239) source

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt, With A Foreword By Sir Herbert Read, A Revised And Complete Translation Of L’homme Revolte By Anthony Bower, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1957, Ch. 4 Rebellion And Art, Creation And Revolution, P. 274) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, IV Révolté En Art, Création Et Révolution, P. 285) source

(The quote in French is also found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Gallimard, 1960, IV Révolté En Art, Création Et Révolution, P. 338) source

“Morality, when it is formal, devours.” – Albert Camus

“La morale , quand elle est formelle , dévore.” (French)

(The quote is also found in: The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt By Albert Camus, Translated From The French By Anthony Bower, New York: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954, Part Three: Historical Rebellion, The Regicides, The Religion Of Virtue, P. 124) source

(The quote in French is found in: L’Homme Révolté Par Albert Camus, Paris: Les Éditions Gallimard, 1951, III. La Révolte Historique, Les Régicides, La Religion De La Vertu, P. 133)

Note: Here are two more sources of free “The Rebel: An Essay On Man In Revolt” by Albert Camus.

Link One

Link Two

Morality When It Is Formal Devours Life Said Albert Camus

Morality When It Is Formal Devours

Quotationize is authentic quotations with valid citations