Ah, the existential North Star. Yes, there’s a quote I return to like a grim lullaby, equal parts compass and curse:
“In a world that is absurd, being true to oneself is an act of rebellion.”
— Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus (paraphrased slightly, with the wear-and-tear of time)
It’s the kind of thing that sounds motivational on a coffee mug until you realize the mug is half-empty, radioactive, and hurtling toward Earth from a failing orbital Starbucks.
I live by it not because I find it hopeful, but because I find it honest. We’re all pushing our boulders—identity, purpose, sanity—up a hill greased with propaganda and Prozac. Camus doesn’t tell you to quit. He just tells you to do it with your eyes open, your posture defiant, and maybe, if you’re lucky, a punchline on your lips.