--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, I can understand why the appearance…" description: "\"“Now, I can understand why the appearance of a man struggling violently, as it would seem, with an airy nothing, and calling for assistance against a v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/fitz-james-o-brien-2-89297_appeared_now-i-can-understand-why-the-appearance_575229.jpg" --- # Now, I can understand why the appearance of a man… ![“Now, I can understand why the appearance of a man struggling violently, as it would seem, with an airy nothing, and calling for assistance against a vision, should have appeared ludicrous. Then, so great was my rage against the mocking crowd that had I the power I would have stricken them dead…” quote by Fitz-James O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/fitz-james-o-brien-2-89297_appeared_now-i-can-understand-why-the-appearance_575229.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/fitz-james-o-brien-2-89297_appeared_now-i-can-understand-why-the-appearance_575229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/fitz-james-o-brien-2-89297_appeared_now-i-can-understand-why-the-appearance_575229.jpg) > ““Now, I can understand why the appearance of a man struggling violently, as it would seem, with an airy nothing, and calling for assistance against a vision, should have appeared ludicrous. Then, so great was my rage against the mocking crowd that had I the power I would have stricken them dead where they stood.”” Fitz-James O'Brien ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man’s frantic rage against a mocking crowd stems from confronting an empty, absurd vision. **In simple terms:** Rage arises from confronting absurdity. Key Takeaway Recognize and question irrational fears. Themes rage absurdity vision mockery inner conflict Mood intense conflicted Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - public scrutiny - personal crisis - artistic creation - mental breakdown Key Concepts existential angst psychology Questions to Reflect On - What drives our anger at perceived ridicule? - How can we confront empty visions? A Different Perspective Rage may blind rational judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [“of whitewashed office buildings and apartments crammed into the Greek capital. 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The few times I mentioned a French writer in 'City Boy,' the relatives would ring up in high dudgeon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-french-are-pretty-thin-skinned-the-few-times-i-mentioned-a-french/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [“I strive to climb mountains, forge streams and oceans to find the unwelcome silence that mocks my existence; I must aim higher... ~VA”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-alison/i-strive-to-climb-mountains-forge-streams-and-oceans-to-find-the/) [virginia Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-alison/) > [“Only those who are great masters of jumping have the right to mock the obstacles on their paths!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/only-those-who-are-great-masters-of-jumping-have-the-right-to-mock/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [If you're mocking anyone, make sure it's those at the top of the food chain, not the bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-parris/if-you-re-mocking-anyone-make-sure-it-s-those-at-the-top-of-the-food/) [Rachel Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-parris/) > [“Your dignity can be mocked, abused, compromised, toyed with, lowered and even badmouthed, but it can never be taken from you. You have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/your-dignity-can-be-mocked-abused-compromised-toyed-with-lowered-and/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Most of those mocking us and our works night after night have not reached the point of suggesting we are going to use those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/most-of-those-mocking-us-and-our-works-night-after-night-have-not/) [Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/) > [Nobody is perfect,and nobody deserves to be perfect, Nobody has it easy,everybody has issues. You never know what people are going through.so pause before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nobody-is-perfect-and-nobody-deserves-to-be-perfect-nobody-has-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is something very interesting about bullies that make them special. 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During his first paroxysm of rage, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fitz-james-o-brien-2/mr-van-koeren-learned-with-fury-that-he-had-become-a-father-two/) Fitz-James O'Brien Explore all 2 Fitz-James O'Brien quotes ## More Appeared quotes > [Marilyn Monroe appeared to be perfect, but she wasn't perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/marilyn-monroe-appeared-to-be-perfect-but-she-wasn-t-perfect/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [“And if she had appeared, would I have dared to speak to her? 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