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It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I…

“It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both; and from an…” quote by Robert Louis Stevenson
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““It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both; and from an early date, even before the course of my scientific discoveries had begun to suggest the most naked possibility of such a miracle, I had learned to dwell with pleasure, as a beloved daydream, on the thought of the separation of these elements. If each, I told myself, could be housed in separate identities, life would be relieved of all that was unbearable; the unjust might go his way, delivered from the aspirations and remorse of his more upright twin; and the just could walk steadfastly and securely on his upward path, doing the good things in which he found his pleasure, and no longer exposed to disgrace and penitence by the hands of this extraneous evil. It was the curse of mankind that these incongruous faggots were thus bound together—that in the agonised womb of consciousness, these polar twins should be continuously struggling. How, then were they dissociated?””

Robert Louis Stevenson

About This Quote

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

The quote explores the internal conflict between good and evil within a person, wishing they could be separated to avoid suffering.

In simple terms: Human nature has both good and evil sides that clash.

Key Takeaway

Seek integration rather than separation of inner conflicts.

Themes

dualism psychology morality identity conflict

Mood

reflective melancholic introspective

Type

literary philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

  • personal reflection
  • ethical decision making
  • mental health coping
  • creative writing
  • philosophical debate

Key Concepts

consciousness self good vs evil self‑division

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can we accept both sides of ourselves?
  • What does integration of opposites look like?
A Different Perspective

Separating good and evil may ignore the necessity of balance and growth.

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