Weeping Quote by William Gaddis
““There was the cell where Fr. Eulalio, a thriving lunatic of eighty-six who was castigating himself for unchristian pride at having all the vowels in his name, and greatly revered for his continuous weeping, went blind in an ecstasy of such howling proportions that his canonization was assured.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Frolic of His Own, 1994
A satirical description of a monk’s bizarre, self‑inflicted suffering leading to a miraculous yet absurd canonization.
In simple terms: Excessive self‑punishment can become absurdly celebrated.
Key Takeaway
Beware of self‑destructive pride.
Themes
satire
religion
pride
Mood
ironic
critical
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic critique
- religious satire
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
absurdism
ego
sanctification
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this exaggeration reveal about institutional reverence?
- When does self‑sacrifice become vanity?
A Different Perspective
The humor may obscure the serious critique of religious authority.
![“May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down my face make me more radiant: may my hidden weeping bloom… How we waste our afflictions!... [T]hey're really our wintering foliage, our dark greens of meaning…” quote by Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c7/rainer-maria-rilke-193_abode_may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and_52479.jpg)
