Let us go on committing suicide by working among our people, and let them dream life just as the lake dreams the sky

Let us go on committing suicide by working among our people, and let them dream life just as the lake dreams the sky

The quote “Let us go on committing suicide by working among our people, and let them dream life just as the lake dreams the sky” encapsulates the existentialist philosophy of Miguel de Unamuno, a Spanish philosopher and writer known for his exploration of the human condition and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe.

Unamuno believed that true fulfillment and authenticity could only be achieved through a constant struggle against the limitations and constraints of existence. In his view, the act of working among one's people, of engaging in the daily grind and routine of life, was a form of self-sacrifice and self-negation that ultimately led to a kind of spiritual death. However, he also recognized the importance of this sacrifice in maintaining the illusion of normalcy and stability for those around us.

The comparison of life to a dream, with the lake representing the individual and the sky symbolizing the infinite possibilities and aspirations of existence, highlights Unamuno's belief in the power of imagination and creativity to transcend the mundane and the ordinary. Just as the lake reflects the sky and creates a mirror image of its beauty and grandeur, so too can individuals create their own reality and shape their own destiny through their dreams and aspirations.

Unamuno's philosophy is deeply rooted in the idea of the individual as a unique and autonomous being, capable of creating their own meaning and purpose in a world that is often chaotic and unpredictable. By embracing the struggle and the challenges of life, by committing to the daily grind and the routine of existence, we can find a sense of fulfillment and authenticity that transcends the limitations of our physical and material existence.