Books Quote by Anthony Burgess
““At the age of fifteen he had bought off a twopenny stall in the market a duo-decimo book of recipes, gossip, and homilies, printed in 1605. His stepmother, able to read figures, had screamed at the sight of it when he had proudly brought it home. 1605 was 'the olden days', meaning Henry VIII, the executioner's axe, and the Great Plague. She thrust the book into the kitchen fire with the tongs, yelling that it must be seething with lethal germs. A limited, though live, sense of history. And history was the reason why she would never go to London. She saw it as dominated by the Bloody Tower, Fleet Street full of demon barbers, as well as dangerous escalators everywhere.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Clockwork Orange, 1962 (reference to historical setting)
A stepmother destroys a book fearing disease, reflecting fear of history and superstition in a turbulent era.
In simple terms: Fear of the past leads to destructive actions.
Key Takeaway
Question how fear shapes responses to history.
Themes
fear
history
superstition
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
Type
literary
historical
When to use this quote
- family conflict
- public health crises
- historical education
Key Concepts
cultural anxiety
historical perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you confront historical fears?
- What lessons can be drawn from past anxieties?
A Different Perspective
Fear can hinder learning from the past.
