Books Quote by Saul Bellow
““A style of this sort will seem to modern readers marred by classical stiffness--"Truth," "Knowers," "the Good," "Man"--but we can by no means deny that behind our objection to such language is a guilty consciousness of the flimsiness, and not infrequently the trashiness, of our modern talk about "values.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Humboldt's Gift, 1975
Modern critique of moral language reveals insecurity about values.
In simple terms: Modern talk feels shallow.
Key Takeaway
Question the depth of contemporary moral discourse.
Themes
language
values
modernity
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- political speech
- media commentary
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
philosophical critique
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you trust modern moral language?
- How can we deepen value discussions?
A Different Perspective
Some may view traditional language as irrelevant.
