Gaze Quote by Ford Madox Ford
““Upon my soul!' Tietjens said to himself, 'that girl down there is the only intelligent living soul I've met for years.' A little pronounced in manner sometimes; faulty in reasoning naturally, but quite intelligent, with a touch of wrong accent now and then. But if she was wanted anywhere, there she'd be! Of good stock, of course: on both sides! But positively, she and Sylvia were the only two human beings he had met for years whom he could respect: the one for sheer efficiency in killing; the other for having the constructive desire and knowing how to set about it. Kill or cure! The two functions of man. If you wanted something killed you'd go to Sylvia Tietjens in sure faith that she would kill it: emotion, hope, ideal; kill it quick and sure. If you wanted something kept alive you'd go to Valentine: she's find something to do for it. . . . The two types of mind: remorseless enemy, sure screen, dagger ... sheath! Perhaps the future of the world then was to women? Why not? He hand't in years met a man that he hadn't to talk down to - as you talk down to a child, as he had talked down to General Campion or to Mr. Waterhouse ... as he always talked down to Macmaster. All good fellows in their way ...””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Parade's End, Volume 3, The Last Post, 1928
The narrator contrasts two women: one who kills ideas swiftly and another who nurtures them, suggesting humanity’s dual capacity for destruction and creation, possibly embodied by women.
In simple terms: Two women represent killing and caring, showing human duality.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance destructive and constructive impulses.
Themes
human nature
gender
duality
power
creation
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
literary
character study
When to use this quote
- leadership decisions
- ethical dilemmas
- creative projects
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance destructive and constructive drives?
- Can one person embody both roles?
A Different Perspective
The binary may oversimplify complex motivations and gender roles.
