Ur Eyes Quote by Arthur Machen
““And what is sin?' said Cotgrave. 'I think I must reply to your question by another. What would your feelings be, seriously, if your cat or your dog began to talk to you, and to dispute with you in human accents? You would be overwhelmed with horror. I am sure of it. And if the roses in your garden sang a weird song, you would go mad. And suppose the stones in the road began to swell and grow before your eyes, and if the pebble that you noticed at night had shot out stony blossoms in the morning? 'Well, these examples may give you some notion of what sin really is.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen, 1894
Sin is portrayed as an incomprehensible, alien horror that shatters ordinary perception, illustrating how the unknown can destabilize human sanity.
In simple terms: Sin is like terrifying, irrational madness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that fear of the unknown can distort moral judgment.
Themes
fear
the unknown
madness
perception
reality
sin
Mood
uneasy
reflective
dark
Type
philosophical
literary
cautionary
When to use this quote
- reading horror literature
- contemplating moral philosophy
- dealing with unexpected change
- managing anxiety
- creative storytelling
Key Concepts
existential horror
psychological distortion
cosmic dread
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “sin” feel like when it defies rational explanation?
- How can we confront irrational fears without losing our sense of self?
A Different Perspective
The metaphorical examples may be too fantastical to apply directly to everyday moral decisions.
