Animals Quote by John Williams
““It came to him that he had turned away from the buffalo not because of a womanish nausea at blood and stench and spilling gut; it came to him that he had sickened and turned away because of his shock at seeing the buffalo, a few moments before proud and noble and full of the dignity of life, now stark and helpless, a length of inert meat, divested of itself, or his notion of its self, swinging grotesquely, mockingly, before him. It was not itself; or it was not that self that he had imagined it to be. That self was murdered; and in that murder he had felt the destruction of something within him, and he had not been able to face it. So he had turned away.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Heart of the Buffalo by John Williams, 2015
He describes a visceral reaction to witnessing a buffalo's death, confronting his own internal shock and inability to face the loss of dignity.
In simple terms: Seeing death shocked him and he turned away.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and process uncomfortable truths.
Themes
psychology
death
existentialism
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
emotional
When to use this quote
- wildlife observation
- personal crisis
- creative writing
- ethical debate
Key Concepts
mortality
human reaction
ethical reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the buffalo symbolize for you?
- How do you confront shocking experiences?
A Different Perspective
Avoiding painful realities can hinder personal growth.
