Arthur, you mustn’t feel that I am rude when I say this…
““Arthur, you mustn’t feel that I am rude when I say this. You must remember that I have been away in strange and desert places, sometimes quite alone, sometimes in a boat with nobody but God and the whistling sea. Do you know, since I have been back with people, I have felt I was going mad? Not from the sea, but from the people. All my gains are slipping away, with the people round me. A lot of the things which you and Jenny say, even, seem to me to be needless: strange noises: empty. You know what I mean, ‘How are you?’ — ‘Do sit down.’— ‘What nice weather we are having!’ What does it matter? People talk far too much. Where I have been, and where Galahad is, it is a waste of time to have ‘manners.’ Manners are only needed between people, to keep their empty affairs in working order. Manners makyth man, you know, not God. So you can understand how Galahad may have seemed inhuman, and mannerless, and so on, to the people who were buzzing and clacking about him. He was far away in his spirit, living on desert islands, in silence, with eternity.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker feels alienated by ordinary social chatter, preferring solitude and silence, and sees manners as superficial tools for human interaction rather than divine truth.
In simple terms: He prefers silence over pointless conversation and sees manners as mere social tools.
Key Takeaway
Embrace solitude and seek deeper meaning beyond small talk.
Themes
isolation
social critique
philosophy
manners
spirituality
Mood
reflective
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- lonely travel
- contemplative retreat
- intimate conversations
- creative work
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Existentialism
social alienation
inner peace
Questions to Reflect On
- How does silence nurture your inner self?
- When are manners essential for harmony?
A Different Perspective
His view may undervalue the role of courteous interaction in building community.