Possessing Quote by Michel Leiris
““Always beneath or above concrete events, I remain a prisoner of this alternative: the world as a real object that dominates me and devours me (like Judith) in suffering and in fear, or else the world as a pure fantasy which dissolves in my hands, which I destroy (like Lucrece thrusting home the dagger) without ever succeeding in possessing it. Perhaps, above all, the question for me is to escape this dilemma by finding a way in which the world and myself--object and subject--confront each other on an equal footing, as the matador stands before the bull.””
About This Quote
Source Book: L'Âme Immatérialisée (The Soul of the World), 1964
The speaker feels trapped between seeing the world as a dominating, terrifying reality and as a fleeting fantasy they can control, seeking a balanced encounter where subject and object stand as equals.
In simple terms: Caught between a hostile reality and an illusory fantasy, yearning for equal footing with the world.
Key Takeaway
Seek a stance where you meet reality as a partner, not a master.
Themes
existentialism
subjectivity
duality
artistic struggle
Mood
introspective
conflicted
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- psychotherapy
- philosophical debate
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
objectivity
subjectivity
power dynamics
self‑realization
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you engage the world without trying to dominate or escape it?
- What practices help you see reality as a partner?
A Different Perspective
Balancing perception may be impossible; the world may never be fully equal.
