To be granite and to doubt! To be the statue of…
““To be granite and to doubt! To be the statue of Chastisement cast in one piece in the mould of the law, and suddenly to become aware of the fact that one cherishes beneath one's breast of bronze something absurd and disobedient which almost resembles a heart! To come to the pass of returning good for good, although one has said to oneself up to that day that that good is evil! To be the watch-dog, and to lick the intruder's hand! To be ice and melt! To be the pincers and to turn into a hand! To suddenly feel one's fingers opening! To relax one's grip,—what a terrible thing!””
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 wrestles with paradoxes of morality, identity, and transformation, feeling trapped between rigid roles and inner chaos.
In simple terms: Struggling with conflicting duties and hidden feelings.
Key Takeaway
Embrace inner complexity.
Themes
identity
morality
conflict
Mood
introspective
conflicted
Type
dramatic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal profession
- personal crisis
- artistic creation
- political activism
Key Concepts
existentialism
self‑discovery
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner conflict holds you?
- How can you reconcile duty and desire?
A Different Perspective
The language is overly dramatic, obscuring practical insight.