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Honest man Quote by Michael Shaara

“When he thought of the old man he could see him suddenly in a field in the spring, trying to move a gray boulder. He always knew instinctively the ones you could move, even though the greater part was buried in the earth, and he expected you to move the rock and not discuss it. A hard and silent…” quote by Michael Shaara
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““When he thought of the old man he could see him suddenly in a field in the spring, trying to move a gray boulder. He always knew instinctively the ones you could move, even though the greater part was buried in the earth, and he expected you to move the rock and not discuss it. A hard and silent man, an honest man, a noble man. Little humor but sometimes the door opened and you saw the warmth within a long way off, a certain sadness, a slow, remote, unfathomable quality as if the man wanted to be closer to the world but did not know how. Once Chamberlain had a speech memorized from Shakespeare and gave it proudly, the old man listening but not looking, and Chamberlain remembered it still: 'What a piece of work is man...in action how like an angel!' And the old man, grinning, had scratched his head and then said stiffly, 'Well, boy, if he's an angel, he's sure a murderin' angel.' And Chamberlain had gone on to school to make an oration on the subject: Man, the Killer Angel. And when the old man heard about it he was very proud, and Chamberlain felt very good remembering it. The old man was proud of his son, the colonel.””

Michael Shaara

About This Quote

Source Novel: *The Killer Angels* by Michael Shaara, 1974

The passage reflects on an old man's stoic, honest nature, his subtle humor, and his complex view of humanity as both noble and violent.

In simple terms: An old man is honest, noble, and sees humanity as both angelic and murderous.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the duality in people.

Themes

human nature honesty duality

Mood

reflective melancholic thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • family relationships
  • historical reflection
  • personal mentorship
  • moral contemplation

Key Concepts

existentialism literary analysis character study

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the “angel” metaphor reveal about his worldview?
  • How do we reconcile noble and violent aspects of humanity?
A Different Perspective

The old man's perspective may oversimplify human complexity.

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