In Milan Kundera's "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting," he explores the irony of progress, suggesting that while people are captivated by the idea of moving forward, they often overlook the fact that this very progress brings them closer to the end. The phrases associated with advancement, such as 'forward' and 'farther,' can be seen as seductive whispers of death, urging individuals to accelerate toward the inevitable conclusion of life.

Furthermore, Kundera posits that the universal appeal of the notion of progress may stem from an underlying awareness of mortality. As people pursue advancement, they may subconsciously be responding to the proximity of death, with the drive for progress acting as both a distraction and a catalyst that amplifies their awareness of life's fleeting nature.