"Tôt ou tard dans la vie, chacun découvre que le bonheur parfait est irréalisable, mais rares sont ceux qui s'arrêtent pour considérer l'antithèse : que le malheur parfait est tout aussi inaccessible."
— Primo Levi
Simplified Meaning:
At some point, everyone realizes that achieving perfect happiness is impossible. But most people don't stop to think that being completely unhappy isn't possible either. Imagine a friend who's always looking for the perfect job or the perfect partner. They might eventually understand that nothing in life is perfect – there's always something that doesn't quite match their expectations. However, it's also important to notice that, even in tough times, there's always a bit of joy, hope, or a small moment that isn't completely bad. For example, during a difficult day at work, you might still enjoy a nice lunch, a kind word from a coworker, or the support of a friend. This quote suggests that while perfect happiness can’t be reached, complete misery can also be avoided. It reminds us to look for small positives even in hard times and recognize that things are rarely all good or all bad. By keeping this in mind, you can focus on appreciating the good moments and not getting overwhelmed by the bad ones.
