Catastrophe Quote by Rebecca West
“Only part of us is sane: only part of us loves pleasure and the longer day of happiness, wants to live to our nineties and die in peace, in a house that we built, that shall shelter those who come after us. The other half of us is nearly mad. It prefers the disagreeable to the agreeable, loves pain and its darker night despair, and wants to die in a catastrophe that will set back life to its beginnings and leave nothing of our house save its blackened foundations.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West, 1915
Human nature contains both a desire for stability and a fascination with chaos, reflecting inner conflict.
In simple terms: We are split between peace and turmoil.
Key Takeaway
Accept both sides of yourself.
Themes
human nature
conflict
duality
Mood
introspective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- creative writing
- risk assessment
- personal growth
Key Concepts
psychology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your darker impulses?
- How can you channel them constructively?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on chaos can undermine wellbeing.
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