Progress and Conceding the Future
The future is the only type of property masters willingly concede to slaves.
“Sorel was perfectly correct in saying that the philosophy of progress was precisely the type of philosophy suited to a society eager to enjoy the material prosperity that comes with technological progress. When a person is assured that the natural order of things is such that tomorrow will be better than today, then that person can have their fun in peace. Progress, paradoxically, can serve to justify conservatism. A deal made based on future trust entitles the master to a clear conscience. To the slave, to those whose present life is mere and who take no consolation in the heavens, we say at least the future belongs to them. The future is the only type of property masters willingly concede to slaves.”
— Albert Camus, The Complete Notebooks, trans. Ryan Bloom, 2025, p. 58, footnote 7
“They deem me mad because I will not sell my days for gold; and I deem them mad because they think my days have a price.”
— Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam, 1926, p. 48