All In One Stone (#108)
Günter Grass: a Sysifus who loves his stone
Such a person must be an inveterate optimist?
"I am not at all someone who lives from the perspective of hope. Like the mythological figure Sisyfus, I know that the stone will roll down once again. So what?
The French writer and philosopher Albert Camus taught me that we must imagine Sysifus as a happy person. I think that's fantastic! I love my stone. And if, one day, he wouldn't roll back down again, I'd be desperate. What would there be left to do?"
Grass puts himself in the category of modern Western illuminate who, following Camus' example, pursue a godless humanity, without hope or expectation, but meticulous, conscientious and dutiful. They are the opposite of idealists.
"Idealists," says Grass, "are always disappointed by their high expectations. Only idealists give up. Sysifus will never resign from his goal."
Such a perspective on life includes a holy belief in reason and dialogue. Although, holy believe? "There is no alternative," says Grass. "The only thing you can do is to keep the dialogue open."
Günter Grass in de Volkskrant, 11 October 2002