Agony Quote by William S. Burroughs
“Squatting on old bones and excrement and rusty iron, in a white blaze of heat, a panorama of naked idiots stretches to the horizon. Complete silence - their speech centres are destroyed - except for the crackle of sparks and the popping of singed flesh as they apply electrodes up and down the spine. White smoke of burning flesh hangs in the motionless air. A group of children have tied an idiot to a post with barbed wire and built a fire between his legs and stand watching with bestial curiosity as the flames lick his thighs. His flesh jerks in the fire with insect agony.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Naked Lunch, William S. Burroughs, 1959
A grotesque scene depicting extreme cruelty and dehumanization, reflecting societal decay and voyeuristic violence.
In simple terms: Violence and cruelty are grotesque.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reject dehumanizing behavior.
Themes
violence
dehumanization
societal decay
Mood
horrific
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- war zones
- extreme media
- abuse of power
Key Concepts
psychology
morality
media influence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this cruelty reveal about society?
- How can we prevent such dehumanization?
A Different Perspective
Graphic detail may desensitize readers.
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
