Cain Quote by Anthony Burgess
“We are supposed to be the children of Seth; but Seth is too much of an effete nonentity to deserve ancestral regard. No, we are the sons of Cain, and with violence can be associated the attacks on sound, stone, wood and metal that produced civilization.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Clockwork Orange, 1962
Contrasts biblical lineage with violent origins, suggesting humanity's progress stems from conflict rather than divine descent.
In simple terms: Human civilization arises from violence, not divine lineage.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the role of conflict in shaping societies.
Themes
violence
myth
civilization
human nature
Mood
dark
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
literary critique
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- ethical debates
- creative writing
Key Concepts
biblical allegory
philosophical critique
anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- Is violence an inevitable driver of progress?
- Can societies evolve without conflict?
![“He [James Cain] is every kind of writer I detest...a Proust in greasy overalls, a dirty little boy with a piece of chalk and a board fence and nobody looking.” quote by Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/614/raymond-chandler-629_cain_he-james-cain-is-every-kind-of-writer-i_41185.jpg)
