Begging Quote by Bret Easton Ellis
““While walking back to the highway I stop, choke back a sob, my throat tightens. "I just want to..." Facing the skyline, through all the baby talk, I murmur, "keep the game going." As I stand, frozen in position, an old woman emerges behind a Threepenny Opera poster at a deserted bus stop and she's homeless and begging, hobbling over, her face covered with sores that look like bugs, holding out a shaking red hand. "Oh will you please go away?" I sigh. She tells me to get a haircut.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis, 1987
The narrator confronts personal despair while witnessing homelessness, highlighting inner conflict between self‑absorption and empathy.
In simple terms: Seeing a homeless woman forces the narrator to face his own emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and act on compassion despite personal turmoil.
Themes
loneliness
empathy
social disparity
inner conflict
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
narrative
social commentary
When to use this quote
- street encounter
- personal crisis
- social awareness
Key Concepts
existentialism
urban alienation
human dignity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does witnessing suffering change your self‑perception?
- What prevents you from helping when you feel overwhelmed?
A Different Perspective
Compassion may be limited by personal numbness.
