[comes out of the bathroom] Brrr. [He trumpets again.]…
![“[comes out of the bathroom] Brrr. [He trumpets again.] BERENGER: That's not what you believe fundamentally—I know you too well. You know as well as I do that mankind... JEAN: [interrupting him] Don't talk to me about mankind! BERENGER: I mean the human individual, humanism... JEAN: Humanism is all…” quote by Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/851/eug-ne-ionesco-1878_quote_comes-out-of-the-bathroom-brrr-he-trumpe_850596.jpg)
““[comes out of the bathroom] Brrr. [He trumpets again.] BERENGER: That's not what you believe fundamentally—I know you too well. You know as well as I do that mankind... JEAN: [interrupting him] Don't talk to me about mankind! BERENGER: I mean the human individual, humanism... JEAN: Humanism is all washed up! You're a ridiculous old sentimentalist. [He goes into the bathroom.] BERENGER: But you must admit that the mind... JEAN: [from the bathroom] Just clichés! You're talking rubbish! BERENGER: Rubbish! JEAN: [from the bathroom in a very hoarse voice, difficult to understand] Utter rubbish! BERENGER: I'm amazed to hear you say that, Jean,””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A debate on humanism versus cynicism, exposing how people dismiss deep ideas as clichés.
In simple terms: People often reject profound concepts as nonsense.
Key Takeaway
Question your assumptions about humanism.
Themes
humanism
skepticism
dialogue
philosophy
Mood
ironic
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
dramatic
When to use this quote
- theatre criticism
- philosophical debate
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
existentialism
ideology
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “humanism” mean to you?
- Why do we label complex ideas as “clichés”?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue the dialogue is purely absurdist comedy, not a serious critique.