Everybody must be managed. Queens must be managed. Kings must be managed, for men want managing almost as much as women, and that's saying a good deal.
Thomas HardyRead
Because what's the use of learning that I am one of a long row only - finding out that there is set down in some old book somebody just like me, and to know that I shall only act her part; making me sad, that's all. The best is not to remember your nature and your past doings have been just like thousands' and thousands', and that your coming life and doings'll be like thousands' and thousands'.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the idea of individuality versus collective human experience.
In this quote, Thomas Hardy contemplates the existential struggle of recognizing one's individuality amidst the overwhelming realization that many aspects of life have already been experienced by countless others. He suggests that knowing our lives are mere repetitions of histories can lead to sadness, and that the best course may be to detach from this knowledge and focus on living authentically without the burden of conformity to the past.
Themes
IndividualityExistenceHistoryHuman ExperienceSadness
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophy discussion on the nature of existence and individuality.
More from Thomas Hardy
All quotes →But nothing is more insidious than the evolution of wishes from mere fancies, and of wants from mere wishes.
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I wish I had never been born--there or anywhere else.
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Her affection for him was now the breath and life of Tess's being; it enveloped her as a photosphere, irradiated her into forgetfulness of her past sorrows, keeping back the gloomy spectres that would persist in their attempts to touch her—doubt, fear, moodiness, care, shame. She knew that they were waiting like wolves just outside the circumscribing light, but she had long spells of power to keep them in hungry subjection there.
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The trees have inquisitive eyes, haven't they? -that is, seem as if they had. And the river says,-'Why do ye trouble me with your looks?' And you seem to see numbers of to-morrows just all in a line, the first of them the biggest and clearest, the others getting smaller and smaller as they stand further away; but they all seem very fierce and cruel and as if they said, 'I'm coming! Beware of me! Beware of me!
Thomas HardyRead
Of course poets have morals and manners of their own, and custom is no argument with them.
Thomas HardyRead
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