After all, let a man take what pains he may to hush it…
“After all, let a man take what pains he may to hush it down, a human soul is an awful, ghostly, unquiet possession for a bad man to have. Who knows the metes and bounds of it? Who knows all its awful perhapses,--those shudderings and tremblings, which it can no more live down than it can outlive its own eternity?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A corrupt soul is haunted by its own darkness, unable to escape its inner torment and inevitable decay.
In simple terms: Bad hearts are haunted by themselves.
Key Takeaway
Beware inner corruption.
Themes
morality
inner conflict
spirituality
Mood
somber
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- therapy
- spiritual counseling
- literary analysis
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existential dread
psychic burden
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner demons do you ignore?
- Can one ever truly escape inner darkness?
A Different Perspective
Might overlook external factors influencing behavior.