“Describe a circle, stroke its back and it turns vicious.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote by Eugene Ionesco
"“Describe a circle, stroke its back and it turns vicious.” - Eugene Ionesco"
Analysis
This quote by Eugene Ionesco is a powerful metaphorical statement about the unpredictability of nature. The image of stroking a harmless circle only to have it turn vicious speaks to the idea that even the most innocent actions can have unexpected consequences. It serves as a reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that we must always be cautious in our interactions with the world around us. The quote invites us to reflect on the complexity and inherent danger in our surroundings, urging us to approach things with a sense of caution and awareness.
The Vicious Cycle of Provocation
Eugene Ionesco's quote, "Describe a circle, stroke its back and it turns vicious," holds modern relevance in today's world of escalating conflicts and tensions. This statement reflects how actions intended to appease or calm a situation can often have the opposite effect, causing further turmoil and aggression. In the context of interpersonal relationships, politics, or global issues, this quote serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between peace and conflict, and the potential for misunderstandings and unintended consequences in our interactions with others.
Reflection Questions
In this quote by Eugene Ionesco, the idea of a circle turning vicious when stroked is presented. Reflecting on this quote, consider the following questions: - What do you think the circle symbolizes in this quote? - How does the act of stroking the circle relate to the concept of turning vicious? - Can you think of a situation in your own life where a seemingly harmless action had unexpected consequences? - Do you believe there is a deeper meaning or lesson behind this quote? If so, what do you think it is?
Similar quotes
“BERENGER: And you consider all this natural? DUDARD: What could be more natural than a rhinoceros? BERENGER: Yes, but for a man to turn into a rhinoceros is abnormal beyond question. DUDARD: Well, of course, that's a matter of opinion ... BERENGER: It is beyond question, absolutely beyond question! DUDARD: You seem very sure of yourself. Who can say where the normal stops and the abnormal begins? Can you personally define these conceptions of normality and abnormality? Nobody has solved this problem yet, either medically or philosophically. You ought to know that. BERENGER: The problem may not be resolved philosophically -- but in practice it's simple. They may prove there's no such thing as movement ... and then you start walking ... [he starts walking up and down the room] ... and you go on walking, and you say to yourself, like Galileo, 'E pur si muove' ... DUDARD: You're getting things all mixed up! Don't confuse the issue. In Galileo's case it was the opposite: theoretic and scientific thought proving itself superior to mass opinion and dogmatism. BERENGER: [quite lost] What does all that mean? Mass opinion, dogmatism -- they're just words! I may be mixing everything up in my head but you're losing yours. You don't know what's normal and what isn't any more. I couldn't care less about Galileo ... I don't give a damn about Galileo. DUDARD: You brought him up in the first place and raised the whole question, saying that practice always had the last word. Maybe it does, but only when it proceeds from theory! The history of thought and science proves that. BERENGER: [more and more furious] It doesn't prove anything of the sort! It's all gibberish, utter lunacy! DUDARD: There again we need to define exactly what we mean by lunacy ... BERENGER: Lunacy is lunacy and that's all there is to it! Everybody knows what lunacy is. And what about the rhinoceroses -- are they practice or are they theory?”
“I thought that it was strange to assume that it was abnormal for anyone to be forever asking questions about the nature of the universe, about what the human condition really was, my condition, what I was doing here, if there was really something to do. It seemed to me, on the contrary, that it was abnormal for people NOT to think about it, for them to allow themselves to live, as it were, unconsciously. Perhaps it's because everyone, all the others, are convinced in some unformulated, irrational way that one day everything will be made clear. Perhaps there will be a morning of grace for humanity. Perhaps there will be a morning of grace for me.”
“I'll never waste my dreams by falling asleep. Never again.”
“It is true that all authors have tried to make propaganda. The great ones are those who failed, who have gained access, consciously or not, to a deeper and more universal reality.”
“I have always considered imaginative truth to be more profound, more loaded with significance, than every day reality... Everything we dream about, and by that I mean everything we desire, is true (the myth of Icarus came before aviation, and if Ader or Bleriot started flying it is because all men have dreamed of flight). There is nothing truer than myth... Reality does not have to be: it is simply what is.”
“People who don't read are brutes.”