If ever he had harboured a conscience in his tough narrow…
““If ever he had harboured a conscience in his tough narrow breast he had by now dug out and flung away the awkward thing - flung it so far away that were he ever to need it again he could never find it. High-shouldered to a degree little short of malformation, slender and adroit of limb and frame, his eyes close-set and the colour of dried blood, he is climbing the spiral staircase of the soul of Gormenghast, bound for some pinnacle of the itching fancy - some wild, invulnerable eyrie best known to himself; where he can watch the world spread out below him, and shake exultantly his clotted wings””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A character suppresses conscience, seeking lofty isolation, believing he can escape moral responsibility.
In simple terms: He hides his conscience to climb to a personal, detached high point.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that denying conscience leads to alienation.
Themes
conscience
isolation
ambition
illusion
power
Mood
melancholic
introspective
dramatic
Type
literary
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- personal ambition
- moral conflict
- creative imagination
- leadership
- spiritual quest
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
self‑deception
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever hide your moral compass to achieve goals?
- What cost does self‑exile exact?
A Different Perspective
Denial of conscience can cause inner fragmentation and loss of humanity.