Bed Quote by Saul Bellow
“It is wrong to turn a man (a subject) into a thing (an object). By means of spiritual dialogue, the I-It relationship becomes an I-Thou relationship. God comes and goes in man's soul. And men come and go in each other's souls. Sometimes they come and go in each other's beds, too.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow, 1953
Treating people as objects dehumanizes them; true dialogue restores mutual humanity.
In simple terms: See others as persons, not things.
Key Takeaway
Engage in genuine, reciprocal conversation.
Themes
ethics
humanity
relationships
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- workplace interactions
- personal relationships
- conflict resolution
- intimate partnerships
Key Concepts
existentialism
objectification
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you shift from objectifying to personifying?
- What barriers prevent true I‑Thou dialogue?
A Different Perspective
Objectification can be subtle and systemic.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
