Birth Quote by William H. Gass
“One may decide that the nipple most nearly resembles a newly ripened raspberry (never, be it noted, the plonk of water on a pond at the commencement of a drizzle, a simple bladder nozzle built on the suction principal gum bubble, mole, or birth ward, bumpy metal button, or the painful red eruption of a swelling), but does one care to see his breakfast fruit as a sweetened milky bowl of snipped nips? no.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Tunnel, William H. Gass, 1995
The passage uses absurd, vivid imagery to mock over‑analysis of mundane things, suggesting we often overcomplicate simple experiences.
In simple terms: We overthink simple things.
Key Takeaway
Accept simplicity, avoid needless detail.
Themes
absurdity
overanalysis
language play
Mood
playful
ironic
Type
literary
satirical
When to use this quote
- reading literature
- creative writing
- critical analysis
Key Concepts
surrealism
metafiction
sensory description
Questions to Reflect On
- What simple pleasure do you over‑describe?
- How does absurd imagery change your view?
A Different Perspective
The humor may obscure deeper critique of perception.
