"Living is a sickness to which sleep provides relief every sixteen hours. It's a palliative. The remedy is death"

Nicolas Chamfort's quote, "Living is an illness to which sleep supplies relief every sixteen hours. It's a palliative. The remedy is death", uses a stark and perhaps negative point of view on life, encapsulating his philosophical views on the human condition. Chamfort, a French author understood for his sharp wit and doubtful outlook, often come to grips with styles of existentialism and the absurdity of life.

The metaphor of life as a "sickness" suggests a state of constant struggle or suffering intrinsic to the human experience. This idea aligns with existentialist idea, which perceives life as naturally lacking significance, leaving individuals to face a universe indifferent to their desires or suffering. Chamfort suggests that life, much like a condition, is stuffed with pain and dissatisfaction. His usage of the word "sickness" suggests not just a physical despair but also a mental or spiritual one-- a prevalent dis-ease with existence itself.

In this context, sleep is referred to as a "palliative", a short-term relief from the burdens of consciousness. A palliative, in medical terminology, describes treatment that relieves symptoms without dealing with the origin. Here, sleep is not a treatment but a quick reprieve from the existential angst of waking life. It highlights our need for periodic withdrawal from reality to recover and regain the strength to confront another day. Sleep, therefore, briefly suspends our awareness of life's obstacles, offering a necessary but short lived escape.

Chamfort concludes with the assertion that death is the supreme "solution". This provides death not as a terrible endpoint but as the conclusive cessation of life's intrinsic "sickness". The finality of death assures release from the consistent cycle of suffering and reprieve. While this viewpoint is undoubtedly bleak, it likewise encapsulates a kind of freedom from life's continuous concerns-- a cessation of the existential concern.

In general, Chamfort's quote provocatively challenges readers to reflect on the nature of life, the role of rest, and the inevitability of death as an ultimate release. It brings into question the value and function appointed to human existence, engaging us to challenge the stark truths of our death.