Book Quote by George Bernard Shaw
“I don't know what to say about this book. The experience on which it is founded is so extraordinary, that an honest record of it should be preserved . . . But it would have driven me mad; and I am not sure that the author came out of it without a slight derangement.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Preface to The Book of the Great, 1915
The author describes an overwhelming, almost maddening experience that must be documented despite its potential to destabilize him.
In simple terms: A powerful experience must be recorded even if it risks insanity.
Key Takeaway
Preserve extraordinary truths despite personal cost.
Themes
truth
madness
recording
legacy
author
experience
Mood
reflective
serious
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- writing memoirs
- documenting trauma
- archiving history
- psychological research
- creative expression
Key Concepts
existential
psychology
literature
memory
truth
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance truth with mental health?
- When should we preserve a story despite personal risk?
A Different Perspective
The account may be biased by the author's mental state, questioning reliability.
