# Clarify a Nietzsche quote- Sisyphus Rolling a boulder uphill
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-nietzsche-quote-sisyphus-rolling-a-boulder-uphill/182835
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 19, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-nietzsche-quote-sisyphus-rolling-a-boulder-uphill/182835 "2003-06-19T01:52:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-nietzsche-quote-sisyphus-rolling-a-boulder-uphill/182835/1 "2003-06-19T01:52:07Z")
I need someone to give me an exact quote of what Nietzsche said, and what book it came from. I’ve been googling for this for hours, but nobody seems to have the quote listed.
It was something along the lines of “Life is like Sisyphus rolling his boulder up hill–only all the while he’s smiling”
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-nietzsche-quote-sisyphus-rolling-a-boulder-uphill/182835/2 "2003-06-19T02:04:01Z")
Are you sure it’s Nietzsche? Albert Camus is better known for his reinterpreteation of the Sisyphus myth, in which the rock-roller is smiling as he toils.
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### Author:  [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-nietzsche-quote-sisyphus-rolling-a-boulder-uphill/182835/3 "2003-06-19T02:07:40Z")
You know, that might be it. I read the quote in passing in an article several years ago, and they may have misattributed the quote. That may be why I’m havin such trouble finding it.
Care to share?
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### Author:  [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-nietzsche-quote-sisyphus-rolling-a-boulder-uphill/182835/4 "2003-06-19T02:08:30Z")
Yep, I’m pretty sure you’re thinking of Camus’ _The Myth of Sisyphus_. I’ll look up the quote for you that comes near the end, unless someone finds it before I can find my old tattered copy!
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### Author:  [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-nietzsche-quote-sisyphus-rolling-a-boulder-uphill/182835/5 "2003-06-19T02:15:15Z")
[The Myth of Sisyphus](http://stripe.colorado.edu/~morristo/sisyphus.html).