“The essential intention is the real sin. A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man.”
In today's fast-paced and complex world, the words of Anthony Burgess ring true more than ever. With the abundance of options and opportunities available to us, the ability to make choices and decisions is a fundamental aspect of being human. This quote serves as a reminder of the importance of choice in shaping our identity and defining who we are.
"The essential intention is the real sin. A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man." - Anthony Burgess
In this quote, Anthony Burgess explores the idea that our ability to make choices is what defines our humanity. Burgess suggests that it is not the action itself that is sinful, but rather the lack of intention or choice behind it. This implies that our moral character is shaped by our ability to make decisions and take responsibility for our actions. Burgess highlights the importance of free will and how it is tied to our sense of identity and agency as human beings. Overall, this quote emphasizes the notion that our choices are fundamental to our existence and character.
Reflecting on Anthony Burgess's quote about the importance of choice in defining our humanity, consider the following questions:
“When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man.”
“Goodness is something chosen. When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man.”
“Does God want goodness or the choice of goodness? Is a man who chooses to be bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed upon him?”
“It may not be nice to be good, little 6655321. It may be horrible to be good. And when I say that to you I realize how self-contradictory that sounds. I know I shall have many sleepless nights about this. What does God want? Does God want goodness or the choice of goodness? Is a man who chooses the bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed upon him? Deep and hard questions, little 6655321.”
“It seems priggish or pollyannaish to deny that my intention in writing the work was to titillate the nastier propensities of my readers. My own healthy inheritance of original sin comes out in the book and I enjoyed raping and ripping by proxy. It is the novelist’s innate cowardice that makes him depute to imaginary personalities the sins that he is too cautious to commit for himself.”
“Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions, when it ceases to be dangerous you don't want it.”