"I was thinking that my folks are having a good time in this world! My father at sixty potters around, talks of 'palliative' remedies, treats sick people, is generous to the peasants, and generally has the time of his life. Mother, too, is happy: her day is crammed with so many occupations and so many oh's and ah's that she hasn't time to stop and think; while I.."
"What about you?"
"I'm thinking: here am I lying under a haystack. The narrow place I occupy is so small compared to the rest of space where I am not and where nobody cares a rap about me; and the little span of my life is such a speck in eternity where I haven't been and never will be... Yet in that atom, in that mathematical point, the blood circulates, the brain works, desires are kindled. How monstrous! How preposterous!"
"Let me tell you that what you say applies in equal measure to all people."
"You're right, " Bazarov said. "What I meant is that they-my parents, that is- are occupied and don't worry about their own insignificance- it doesn't rankle them... whereas I... I am disgusted and furious."
---
"Look," Arkady said suddenly, "a dry maple lead has broken off and fallen to the ground; its movements are exactly like the flight of a butterfly. Isn't it curious? A thing so utterly sad and dead resembles a thing so utterly alive and joyous."
"O, my friend, Arkady Nikolaich!" Bazarov exclaimed, "one thing I ask of you. Don't speak so sweetly."
---
Fathers and Sons, Ivan Turgenev
2 comments:
I love the quotes you find.....and my, what a repertoire of books!
I'm so happy you read them!
:D
my books represent the social life that I don't have.
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