“Leave us alone without books and we shall be lost and in confusion at once. We shall not know what to join on to, what to cling to, what to love and what to hate, what to respect and what to despise. We are oppressed at being men -- men with a real individual body and blood, we are ashamed of it, we think it a disgrace and try to contrive to be some sort of impossible generalised man. We are stillborn, and for generations past have been begotten, not by living fathers, and that suits us better and better. We are developing a taste for it. Soon we shall contrive to be born somehow from an idea. But enough; I don't want to write more from "Underground.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel "Notes from Underground," the speaker reflects on the importance of books in human life. The speaker argues that without books, individuals would be lost and confused, unable to discern between right and wrong, love and hate, respect and contempt. The speaker also criticizes society for trying to conform to a generalized idea of man, rather than embracing their individuality. This quote highlights the significance of literature in shaping human identity and understanding of the world.
Modern Relevance
In this quote from Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground", the author delves into the importance of literature in shaping our identities and providing a sense of direction in a confusing world. Today, in a society inundated with information and distractions, the message remains relevant as ever. The quote serves as a reminder of the crucial role that books play in helping us understand ourselves, make sense of the world around us, and connect with our humanity.
Example of Usage
In this passage, Fyodor Dostoevsky reflects on the importance of books in shaping our identity and guiding our emotions. He argues that without literature, we would be lost and without direction, struggling to make sense of our existence. Dostoevsky's words highlight the power of books to provide us with a sense of purpose and understanding in a chaotic world.
Reflection Questions
In this passage from "Underground" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the author explores the idea of the importance of books and literature in shaping our identities and understanding of the world. Reflect on the following questions:
- How do books and literature contribute to shaping our beliefs, values, and personal identities?
- In what ways can a lack of exposure to books and literature leave us feeling lost and confused in our lives?
- Do you agree with the idea that society often pressures individuals to conform to a generalized image of what it means to be a "man" or a "woman"? How does this impact our sense of individuality?
- How do you interpret the notion of being "stillborn" and the desire to be born from an idea, rather than from living fathers?
- How can we ensure that we maintain a sense of individuality and authenticity in a world that often promotes conformity and sameness?
Similar quotes
“we don’t even know what living means now, what it is, and what it is called? Leave us alone without books and we shall be lost and in confusion at once. We shall not know what to join on to, what to cling to, what to love and what to hate, what to respect and what to despise. We are oppressed at being men—men with a real individual body and blood, we are ashamed of it, we think it a disgrace and try to contrive to be some sort of impossible generalised man.”
“Even now, so many years later, all this is somehow a very evil memory. I have many evil memories now, but ... hadn't I better end my "Notes" here? I believe I made a mistake in beginning to write them, anyway I have felt ashamed all the time I've been writing this story; so it's hardly literature so much as a corrective punishment. Why, to tell long stories, showing how I have spoiled my life through morally rotting in my corner, through lack of fitting environment, through divorce from real life, and rankling spite in my underground world, would certainly not be interesting; a novel needs a hero, and all the traits for an anti-hero are expressly gathered together here, and what matters most, it all produces an unpleasant impression, for we are all divorced from life, we are all cripples, every one of us, more or less. We are so divorced from it that we feel at once a sort of loathing for real life, and so cannot bear to be reminded of it. Why, we have come almost to looking upon real life as an effort, almost as hard work, and we are all privately agreed that it is better in books. And why do we fuss and fume sometimes? Why are we perverse and ask for something else? We don't know what ourselves. It would be the worse for us if our petulant prayers were answered. Come, try, give any one of us, for instance, a little more independence, untie our hands, widen the spheres of our activity, relax the control and we ... yes, I assure you ... we should be begging to be under control again at once. I know that you will very likely be angry with me for that, and will begin shouting and stamping. Speak for yourself, you will say, and for your miseries in your underground holes, and don't dare to say all of us-- excuse me, gentlemen, I am not justifying myself with that "all of us." As for what concerns me in particular I have only in my life carried to an extreme what you have not dared to carry halfway, and what's more, you have taken your cowardice for good sense, and have found comfort in deceiving yourselves. So that perhaps, after all, there is more life in me than in you. Look into it more carefully! Why, we don't even know what living means now, what it is, and what it is called? Leave us alone without books and we shall be lost and in confusion at once. We shall not know what to join on to, what to cling to, what to love and what to hate, what to respect and what to despise. We are oppressed at being men--men with a real individual body and blood, we are ashamed of it, we think it a disgrace and try to contrive to be some sort of impossible generalised man. We are stillborn, and for generations past have been begotten, not by living fathers, and that suits us better and better. We are developing a taste for it. Soon we shall contrive to be born somehow from an idea. But enough; I don't want to write more from "Underground."[The notes of this paradoxalist do not end here, however. He could notrefrain from going on with them, but it seems to us that we may stophere.]”
“We shall live with what is, and hope that one of us is clever enough to think of something better. What else can we do?”
“Either we shall find what it is we are seeking or at least we shall free ourselves from the persuasion that we know what we do not know.”
“We shall live for no reason. Then die and be done with it. What a recognition! What shall save us? Only the knowledge that we have lived without illusion, not excluding the illusion that something will save us. —William H. Gass, “Mr. Gaddis and His Goddamn Books” (2006)”