“On meurt deux Source fois, je le vois bien : > > Cesser d’aimer & d’être aimable, > > C’est une mort insupportable : > > Cesser de vivre, ce n’est rien.”
This powerful stanza comes from the 18th-century philosopher Voltaire. In English, it translates to: “We die twice, I see it clearly: To cease to love and be lovable, that is an unbearable death: To cease to live is nothing.” Voltaire presents a stark choice. He argues that a social death, a life devoid of connection and affection, is far more terrifying than physical death. This insight was profound in his time. However, it feels even more relevant today in our age of hyper-consumerism and curated online identities.
Voltaire (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)‘s words cut through centuries of change. They force us to question what it truly means to be alive. Furthermore, they challenge the very foundations of modern consumer culture. We often chase luxury and status as proxies for love and worth. This pursuit, however, can lead to the exact emptiness Voltaire warned us about.
The ‘Unbearable Death’ in the 21st Century
Voltaire feared losing connection and social value. He called this an “unbearable death.” Today, we fight this social death with different tools. We build personal brands on social media. We buy products that signal our success and taste. Consequently, our value can feel tied to what we own and project, not who we are. The fear of becoming irrelevant or unlikable drives a relentless cycle of consumption.
This modern quest to be “lovable” often involves acquiring status symbols. Source Luxury brands don’t just sell handbags or watches; they sell an identity. They offer a shortcut to feeling admired and accepted. The implicit promise is that owning the right things will make you lovable. This logic fuels an industry built on desire and insecurity. For instance, consumer spending on luxury goods continues to rise globally each year. .
This relentless pursuit creates immense pressure. We constantly compare ourselves to curated images of perfection online. The gap between our real lives and these digital facades can breed anxiety and dissatisfaction. Ultimately, we risk chasing a version of “lovable” that is shallow and unattainable, leading us directly toward the social death Voltaire described.
The Hypocrisy of Modern Consumption
The chase for status through consumption is filled with hypocrisy. Many people advocate for ethical values like sustainability. Yet, they participate in fast fashion or embrace brands with questionable labor practices. This disconnect is not necessarily malicious. Instead, it highlights the powerful conflict between our stated values and our deep-seated desire for social acceptance. The pressure to fit in often outweighs our commitment to abstract ideals.
Moreover, social media amplifies this hypocrisy. We project polished versions of ourselves for public approval. An influencer might post about mental wellness one moment and promote an unhealthy diet product the next. This performance is a core part of the modern economy. Indeed, authenticity itself has become a product to be packaged and sold. People spend significant amounts to appear effortlessly successful and happy. For example, a large portion of discretionary spending goes toward experiences and goods that enhance one’s social media presence.
This behavior creates a culture of illusion. We are performing for an audience, hoping for validation in the form of likes and shares. However, this validation is fleeting. It fails to build the genuine, lasting connections that truly protect us from the “unbearable death” of loneliness and irrelevance.
Is Ceasing to Live Really Nothing?
Voltaire’s final line, “To cease to live, ce n’est rien,” is intentionally provocative. He isn’t dismissing the value of life. Instead, he is elevating the importance of a life well-lived. A life rich with love, friendship, intellectual curiosity, and purpose is what matters. A mere biological existence without these elements is, in his view, an empty shell. He believed that the quality of our engagement with the world defines our existence.
In our modern context, this idea is a radical challenge to consumerism. The market tells us to accumulate more. Voltaire tells us to connect more. While consumer culture encourages us to build an impressive exterior, Voltaire’s philosophy urges us to cultivate a rich interior. This involves prioritizing relationships over transactions and meaning over materials.
Ultimately, Voltaire’s timeless insight serves as a powerful reminder. The things we buy cannot save us from our deepest fears. Genuine connection and self-worth are not for sale. By chasing status through luxury and consumption, we may be inadvertently embracing the very “unbearable death” we are trying so desperately to avoid.