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The nonconformist here may be "beat down" by life but still has a beauty in his or her longing for freedom and for an awakening of the mind.
William S. Burroughs
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Nonconformists may face hardship in life, yet their desire for freedom and mental awakening is beautiful.

William S. Burroughs highlights the struggle of nonconformists who, despite being oppressed by societal norms or challenges in life, possess an inner beauty that stems from their longing for freedom and enlightenment. This longing signifies a profound awareness and appreciation for one's individuality and intellectual freedom, which can flourish even in adversity.

Themes

NonconformityFreedomAwakeningBeautyLonging

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used during a speech about individuality and self-acceptance.

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God save the Queen and a fascist regime … a flabby toothless fascism, to be sure. Never go too far in any direction, is the basic law on which Limey-Land is built. The Queen stabilizes the whole sinking shithouse and keeps a small elite of wealth and privilege on top. The English have gone soft in the outhouse. England is like some stricken beast too stupid to know it is dead. Ingloriously foundering in its own waste products, the backlash and bad karma of empire
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