Humanists Quote by Saul Bellow
““Still, what can thoughtful people and humanists do but struggle toward suitable words? Take me, for instance. I've been writing letters helter-skelter in all directions. More words. I go after reality with language. Perhaps I’d like to change it all into language, to force Madeline and Gersbach to have a Conscience. There’s a word for you. I must be trying to keep tight the tensions without which human beings can no longer be called human. If they don’t suffer, they’ve gotten away from me. And I’ve filled the world with letters to prevent their escape. I want them in human form, and so I conjure up a whole environment and catch them in the middle. I put my whole heart into these constructions. But they are constructions.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Herzog, 1964
The writer wrestles with language’s power to shape reality and preserve human tension, fearing loss of suffering that defines humanity.
In simple terms: Struggling to capture human tension in words, fearing loss of suffering defines humanity.
Key Takeaway
Use language to confront and preserve human tension.
Themes
humanism
creativity
existentialism
art
language
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- writing
- philosophical essays
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
tension
authenticity
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape our perception of suffering?
- Can we preserve humanity through words alone?
A Different Perspective
Words cannot fully replace lived experience; language may distance rather than connect.
