Character Quote by Richard Matheson
““Crossing your fingers, Neville? Knocking on wood? He ignored that, beginning to suspect his mind of harboring an alien. Once he might have termed it conscience. Now it was only an annoyance. Morality, after all, had fallen with society. He was his own ethic. Makes a good excuse, doesn’t it, Neville? Oh, shut up.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Uninvited, 1971
The protagonist sees morality as a personal construct, detached from societal norms, leading to alienation and self‑justification.
In simple terms: He treats morality as his own, not society’s.
Key Takeaway
Question your own moral compass.
Themes
morality
individualism
alienation
Mood
conflicted
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- ethical dilemmas
- psychological introspection
Key Concepts
existentialism
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define right and wrong without external guidance?
- Can self‑made ethics be trustworthy?
A Different Perspective
Society’s moral frameworks still influence behavior.
