--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They were conscientious, you couldn't…" description: "\"“They were conscientious, you couldn't deny it, and they were also flabby, heartless sons-of-bitches. In other words, they were well chosen, as mindles..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_journey-to-the-end-o_they-were-conscientious-you-couldn-t-den_784729.jpg" --- # They were conscientious, you couldn't deny it, and they… ![“They were conscientious, you couldn't deny it, and they were also flabby, heartless sons-of-bitches. In other words, they were well chosen, as mindlessly enthusiastic as any employer could dream of. Sons that would have delighted my mother, worshiping their bosses, if only she could have had one…” quote by Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_journey-to-the-end-o_they-were-conscientious-you-couldn-t-den_784729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_journey-to-the-end-o_they-were-conscientious-you-couldn-t-den_784729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/louis-ferdinand-celine-1139_journey-to-the-end-o_they-were-conscientious-you-couldn-t-den_784729.jpg) > ““They were conscientious, you couldn't deny it, and they were also flabby, heartless sons-of-bitches. In other words, they were well chosen, as mindlessly enthusiastic as any employer could dream of. Sons that would have delighted my mother, worshiping their bosses, if only she could have had one all to herself, a son she could have been proud of in the eyes of the world, a real legitimate son.”” [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator describes a paradoxical group: obedient yet morally bankrupt, reflecting societal hypocrisy and the yearning for authentic approval. **In simple terms:** People can be loyal yet lack integrity. Key Takeaway Question blind loyalty and seek authenticity. Themes hypocrisy loyalty identity family expectations Mood skeptical critical dark Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - family expectations - political movements Key Concepts existentialism social critique masculine ideals Questions to Reflect On - What does “real legitimate son” mean to you? - How do you balance duty and morality? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can perpetuate injustice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Sons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sons/) ## Related quotes > [“Dreams rise in the darkness and catch fire from the mirage of moving light. What happens on the screen isn't quite real; it leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/dreams-rise-in-the-darkness-and-catch-fire-from-the-mirage-of-moving-2/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“If that's the case, hurrah for the crazy people! 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We were ashamed of wanting what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/we-went-there-to-grope-for-our-happiness-which-all-the-world-was/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“The law you sons of bitches!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-law-you-sons-of-bitches/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“When they get in trouble, they send for the sons-of-bitches”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-hornfischer/when-they-get-in-trouble-they-send-for-the-sons-of-bitches/) [James D. Hornfischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-hornfischer/) > [“There are different paths to your destination. Choose your own path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-are-different-paths-to-your-destination-choose-your-own-path/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Study changes a man, puts pride into him. You need it to get to the bottom of life. Without it you just skim the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/study-changes-a-man-puts-pride-into-him-you-need-it-to-get-to-the/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“A difficult journey is spiritual rewarding. There is a more dependence on God, His supernatural power, grace and divine favour long the travel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/a-difficult-journey-is-spiritual-rewarding-there-is-a-more-dependence/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“If on'y they didn' tell me I got to get off, why, I'd prob'y be in California right now a-eatin' grapes an a-pickin' an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/if-on-y-they-didn-tell-me-i-got-to-get-off-why-i-d-prob-y-be-in/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“He was acting like one of those crazy sons of bitches that you see on an episode of Hoarders. You know, the one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-alexander/he-was-acting-like-one-of-those-crazy-sons-of-bitches-that-you-see-on/) Ren Alexander > [“Shit! Those sons a bitches Russians!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/shit-those-sons-a-bitches-russians/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [“Screw you, you sons of bitches. I may be just a goddamn Jew Red to you, but I'm keeping Jefferson alive!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-f-stone-2/screw-you-you-sons-of-bitches-i-may-be-just-a-goddamn-jew-red-to-you/) I.F. Stone > [The way those sons-of-bitches took advantage of me. Warhol is a sadistic faggot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-sedgwick/the-way-those-sons-of-bitches-took-advantage-of-me-warhol-is-a/) [Edie Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-sedgwick/) > [I've had it with these cheap sons of bitches who claim they love poetry but never buy a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-rexroth/i-ve-had-it-with-these-cheap-sons-of-bitches-who-claim-they-love/) [Kenneth Rexroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-rexroth/) ## More by Louis-Ferdinand Céline > [The beginning of genius is being scared shitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-beginning-of-genius-is-being-scared-shitless/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“All our misery comes from wanting at all costs to go on being Tom, Dick, or Harry, year in, year out. This body of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/all-our-misery-comes-from-wanting-at-all-costs-to-go-on-being-tom/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“Now I know... we have at least two friends!... Cillie von Leiden and the hunchback... not bad in our situation... or, come right down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/now-i-know-we-have-at-least-two-friends-cillie-von-leiden-and-the/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [I hadn't found out yet that mankind consists of two very different races, the rich and the poor. 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It finds the body really too unbearable. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/there-s-a-point-of-poverty-at-which-the-spirit-isn-t-with-the-body/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“You can be a virgin in horror the same as in sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/you-can-be-a-virgin-in-horror-the-same-as-in-sex/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [You can lose your way groping among the shadows of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/you-can-lose-your-way-groping-among-the-shadows-of-the-past/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“People cling to their rotten memories, to all their misfortunes, and you can't pry them loose. These things keep them busy. They avenge themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/people-cling-to-their-rotten-memories-to-all-their-misfortunes-and/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“He couldn't have explained this misery of his, it exceeded his education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/he-couldn-t-have-explained-this-misery-of-his-it-exceeded-his/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“Hurry hurry, cram yourself full of dreams to carry you through the life that's waiting for you outside, when you leave here, to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/hurry-hurry-cram-yourself-full-of-dreams-to-carry-you-through-the/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [The poetry of heroism appeals irresistibly to those who don't go to a war, and even more to those whom the war is making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/the-poetry-of-heroism-appeals-irresistibly-to-those-who-don-t-go-to-a/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“While he was cautiously preambling, I tried to form a picture of all he did each day to earn his calories, all his grimaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/while-he-was-cautiously-preambling-i-tried-to-form-a-picture-of-all/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) [Explore all 212 Louis-Ferdinand Céline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) ## More Journey-to-the-end-of-the-night quotes > [“A difficult journey is spiritual rewarding. There is a more dependence on God, His supernatural power, grace and divine favour long the travel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/a-difficult-journey-is-spiritual-rewarding-there-is-a-more-dependence/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“We went there to grope for our happiness, which all the world was threatening with the utmost ferocity. We were ashamed of wanting what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/we-went-there-to-grope-for-our-happiness-which-all-the-world-was/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“Study changes a man, puts pride into him. You need it to get to the bottom of life. Without it you just skim the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/study-changes-a-man-puts-pride-into-him-you-need-it-to-get-to-the/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“Those people were pushing life and night and day in front of them. Life hides everything from people. Their own noise prevents them from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/those-people-were-pushing-life-and-night-and-day-in-front-of-them/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“There are different paths to your destination. Choose your own path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-are-different-paths-to-your-destination-choose-your-own-path/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“If that's the case, hurrah for the crazy people! Look, Lola, do you remember a single name, for instance, of any of the soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/if-that-s-the-case-hurrah-for-the-crazy-people-look-lola-do-you/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [“Dreams rise in the darkness and catch fire from the mirage of moving light. What happens on the screen isn't quite real; it leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/dreams-rise-in-the-darkness-and-catch-fire-from-the-mirage-of-moving-2/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) Browse all 8 Journey-to-the-end-of-the-night quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They were conscientious, you couldn't deny it, and they were also flabby, heartless sons-of-bitches. In other words, they were well chosen, as mindlessly enthusiastic as any employer could dream of. 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