Quote by Boris Pasternak: “Man is born to live, not to prepare for life.”

This quote advocates for embracing life's present moments rather than perpetually deferring joy and experience in anticipation of a future state. It suggests that true existence lies in active engagement with the now, emphasizing the importance of living fully rather than endlessly planning.

Published after World War II, during the Cold War, Pasternak's novel explored themes of individual freedom and the human spirit's resilience against totalitarianism, reflecting on the meaning of life amidst collective historical forces.

Russian poet and novelist who is best known internationally for his novel Doctor Zhivago, which was banned in the Soviet Union and published abroad in 1957. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958 but was forced to decline it under Soviet pressure. His poetry is considered among the finest in the Russian language.