"When a truly unfortunate man understands and feels a A deep awareness of
the impossibility of being happy, and the great and certain unhappiness
of humankind, he begins by becoming indifferent about himself, like
someone who can hope for nothing, and neither lose nor suffer more than
what he already knows and expects. But if misfortune reaches its peak,
indifference is not enough, and he loses nearly all his self-love (which
had already been so violated by this indifference), or rather directs
it in a way that is entirely contrary to normal behavior; he begins to
hate life, existence, and himself, he becomes abhorrent to himself, as
though he were an enemy, and that is when the prospect of new
misfortunes, or the idea and act of suicide, gives him a terrible and
almost barbarous joy, especially if he succeeds in killing himself while
being obstructed by others. That is the time of that malign, bitter,
and ironic smile, like that of a cruel man who has carried out a revenge
he has long, fervently, and impatiently desired. That smile is the last
expression of extreme despair and supreme unhappiness."
(from
"Zibaldone" by Giacomo Leopardi, Michael Caesar, Franco D'Intino,
Kathleen Baldwin, Richard Dixon, David Gibbons, Ann Goldstein, Gerard
Slowey, Martin Thom, Pamela Williams)
