Milan Kundera in "The Art of the Novel" reflects on the nature of human life and experience, highlighting the uniqueness of each life we live. He suggests that we are only born once and cannot reset or restart our existence with the wisdom we've acquired from our past experiences. As we transition through different life stages—moving from childhood to youth, and then to marriage and old age—we often lack a true understanding of what these phases entail, marking a persistent state of inexperience throughout life.

Kundera poignantly notes that even as we grow older, we remain oblivious to the essence of aging, likening the elderly to innocent children unaware of their situation. This perspective reinforces the idea that humanity exists in a continuous cycle of learning and innocence, never truly grasping the fullness of life's experiences until they are behind us. As a result, Kundera portrays the world as a place where inexperience reigns, emphasizing the complexities of human existence and understanding.