--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But that was merely an intellectual…" description: "\"“But that was merely an intellectual decision, taken because he knew that he ought to take it. He did not feel it. In this place you could not feel any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/591/george-orwell-57_pain_but-that-was-merely-an-intellectual-deci_859608.jpg" --- # But that was merely an intellectual decision, taken… ![“But that was merely an intellectual decision, taken because he knew that he ought to take it. He did not feel it. In this place you could not feel anything, except the pain and the foreknowledge of pain. Besides, was it possible, when you were actually suffering it, to wish for any reason whatever…” quote by George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/591/george-orwell-57_pain_but-that-was-merely-an-intellectual-deci_859608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/591/george-orwell-57_pain_but-that-was-merely-an-intellectual-deci_859608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/591/george-orwell-57_pain_but-that-was-merely-an-intellectual-deci_859608.jpg) > ““But that was merely an intellectual decision, taken because he knew that he ought to take it. He did not feel it. In this place you could not feel anything, except the pain and the foreknowledge of pain. Besides, was it possible, when you were actually suffering it, to wish for any reason whatever that your own pain should increase? But that question was not answerable yet.”” [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a detached, intellectual choice made without feeling, questioning whether suffering can be rationalized. **In simple terms:** Decision made without feeling, questioning pain. Key Takeaway Recognize when choices are purely rational. Themes rationality pain existential doubt Mood reflective somber Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - medical decisions - moral dilemmas - personal crises Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can you separate intellect from feeling? - Is it possible to desire more pain? A Different Perspective Rational choices may ignore emotional truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foreknowledge Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreknowledge-pain-839396/) [Intellectual Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-decision-812494/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Foreknowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-foreknowledge-839395/) [Pain Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-possible-839397/) [Reason Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-pain-267249/) ## Related quotes > [“...In this place you could not feel anything, except pain and foreknowledge of pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-this-place-you-could-not-feel-anything-except-pain-and/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Religion is a self-conferred intellectual decision; it's not something you get at birth and is unchangeable. 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Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. 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The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [It hurts wanting the best for someone you love, even if they feel the best isn't you. 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