“The world is full of people who are not in the world.”Jean de La Bruyère · Caracterele · 1688 · De la société, 4
Physical presence does not guarantee authentic engagement with life.
La Bruyère suggests that some people, though physically present, do not truly engage with life: they are spiritually absent, absorbed by routine, appearances, or their own fantasies. For example, someone who goes to work but notices no one and engages in nothing is in the world without being in the world.
Why it matters Today, in an age of digital distractions, this warning reminds us not to mistake physical presence for genuine engagement.