And therein lies the whole of man's plight. Human time does not turn in a circle; it runs ahead in a straight line. That is why man cannot be happy: happiness is the longing for repetition.
The quote from Milan Kundera's "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" reflects on the nature of human existence and the pursuit of happiness. It suggests that humans are trapped in a linear progression of time, moving forward without the possibility of reliving moments. This linearity creates a sense of dissatisfaction, as people yearn for the joy found in repetition and the comfort of familiar experiences.
Kundera articulates a fundamental aspect of the human condition: the constant desire to return to past moments of happiness, highlighting a central conflict in life. As we experience time moving only forward, the impossibility of reliving our happiest memories leads to a feeling of loss and unfulfilled longing. This insight captures the essence of what it means to navigate life and the struggle between the hope for happiness and the inevitability of change.
