The living hell is not something that will be; There is one, it is the one that exists here, the hell that we inhabit every day, that we form being together. Two ways are not suffering. The first is easy for many: accept hell and become part of it to the point of not seeing it anymore. The second is dangerous and demands continuous attention and learning: seek and know how to recognize who and what, in the midst of hell, is not hell, and make it last, and give space.
The quote reflects on the nature of suffering and the idea that hell is not an abstract future state but a present reality that individuals experience collectively. It suggests that people can either resign themselves to this hell by accepting it blindly or choose a more challenging path that requires awareness and effort. This second option involves recognizing and nurturing the positive elements amidst the suffering.
Calvino emphasizes the importance of discernment in a harsh environment, advocating for an active engagement with life that seeks out beauty and goodness even in darkness. This approach requires vigilance and a commitment to identifying and fostering those aspects that can bring hope and meaning to existence, thereby transforming one's experience of reality.
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