“ Man alone can give one the disgust of pity; yet I find it easier to believe in the misfortune of mankind than in its wickedness. ”
Joseph Conrad, Victory: An Island Tale (1915). copy citation
| Author | Joseph Conrad |
|---|---|
| Source | Victory: An Island Tale |
| Topic | wickedness disgust |
| Date | 1915 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6378/6378-h/6378-h.htm |
Context
“The so-called wickedness must be, like the so-called virtue, its own reward—to be anything at all . . .
Clairvoyance or no clairvoyance, men love their captivity. To the unknown force of negation they prefer the miserably tumbled bed of their servitude. Man alone can give one the disgust of pity; yet I find it easier to believe in the misfortune of mankind than in its wickedness.
These were the last words. Heyst lowered the book to his knees. Lena's voice spoke above his drooping head:
“You sit there as if you were unhappy.”
“I thought you were asleep,” he said.
“I was lying down right enough, but I never closed my eyes.””
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