“Whatever has gone on in the outer world has passed me by. But I think if anyone said to me, 'if you go on like this life will pass you by,' I would reply, 'thank God for that, I nearly got mixed up in the beastly thing.”
In this quote by Quentin Crisp, he expresses a sense of detachment from the world around him. He acknowledges that he is out of touch with what is happening in the "outer world," but rather than feeling left behind, he welcomes the idea that life will pass him by. This attitude suggests a certain level of contentment with his own isolation and detachment from societal norms. Crisp's tone is one of defiance and independence, as he rejects the idea that he should conform to the expectations of others. This quote highlights Crisp's unique perspective on life and his refusal to be consumed by societal pressures.
Quentin Crisp's sentiment of disconnecting from the outer world may seem extreme, but in today's digital age where we are constantly bombarded with information and distractions, his words hold a modern relevance. With the rise of social media and technology, it's easy to get caught up in the chaos of the world around us. Crisp's idea of focusing on one's own inner world and finding peace in solitude can serve as a reminder to prioritize our mental well-being and not get swept away by the overwhelming nature of the external world.
Quentin Crisp's quote reflects a perspective of detachment from the chaos and distractions of the world. It begs the question of what truly matters in life and what we may be missing out on when we get caught up in the busyness around us. Consider the following reflection questions:
“When I told the people of Northern Ireland that I was an atheist, a woman in the audience stood up and said, 'Yes, but is it the God of the Catholics or the God of the Protestants in whom you don't believe?”
“As soon as I put my uniform on, the rest of my life solidified around me like a plaster cast. From that moment on, my friends were anyone who could put up with the disgrace; my occupation, any job from which I was not given the sack; my playground, any cafe or restaurant from which I was not barred or any street corner from which the police did not move me on.”
“I learned very early in life that I was always going to need people more than they needed me.”
“I now realize that education is a last wild effort on the part of the authorities to prevent an overdose of leisure from driving the world mad. Learning is no longer an improver; it is merely the most expensive time-filler the world has ever known.”
“Life was a funny thing that happened to me on the way to the grave.”
“I am unable to believe in a God susceptible to prayer. I simply haven't the nerve to imagine a being, a force, a cause which keeps the planets revolving in their orbits, and then suddenly stops in order to give me a bicycle with three speeds.”