Business Quote by JM Coetzee
““I was a servant of Eros: that is what he wants to say, but does he have the effrontery? It was a god who acted through me. What vanity! Yet not a lie, not entirely. In the whole wretched business there was something generous that was doing its best to flower. (89)””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Disgrace, 1999
The narrator sees himself as a tool of desire, mixing vanity with a hint of generosity.
In simple terms: Servant of desire, both vain and generous.
Key Takeaway
Question motives behind actions.
Themes
desire
vanity
generosity
self‑reflection
Mood
introspective
melancholy
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- personal introspection
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
existentialism
morality
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives the narrator’s self‑justification?
- Can vanity coexist with genuine generosity?
A Different Perspective
Self‑deception can mask true intent.
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![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)