Milan Kundera’s "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" presents a thought-provoking perspective on the nature of time and human experience. He suggests that time is linear rather than cyclical, emphasizing that life progresses in one direction. This linearity indicates that our choices and experiences cannot be repeated, making each moment unique and irreversible.

Kundera further asserts that the desire for happiness often stems from a yearning for repetition or the ability to relive joyous moments. However, since time only moves forward, this longing becomes a source of frustration, as true happiness remains elusive and unattainable in the desire for the past. Thus, he highlights the paradox of seeking happiness through the impossibility of revisiting experiences.