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Because the best phrase and always still the youngest…

“Because the best phrase and always still the youngest, was: goodness makes me want to be sick. Goodness was lukewarm and light. It smelled of raw meat kept for too long. Without entirely rotting in spite of everything. It was freshened up from time to time, seasoned a little, enough to keep it a…” quote by Clarice Lispector
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““Because the best phrase and always still the youngest, was: goodness makes me want to be sick. Goodness was lukewarm and light. It smelled of raw meat kept for too long. Without entirely rotting in spite of everything. It was freshened up from time to time, seasoned a little, enough to keep it a piece of lukewarm, quiet meat.””

Clarice Lispector

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator describes goodness as stale, almost repulsive, yet still appealing, highlighting the paradox of desire for moral purity.

In simple terms: Goodness feels both repellent and alluring.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the complexity of moral attraction.

Themes

morality desire paradox illusion

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • art criticism
  • self‑reflection
  • philosophical debate

Key Concepts

ethical ambiguity psychological tension

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why does the narrator find goodness sickening?
  • Can moral purity be truly satisfying?
A Different Perspective

The passage may romanticize unhealthy obsession with moral perfection.

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