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The ethical view of the universe involves us in so many cruel and absurd contradictions that I have come to suspect that the aim of creation cannot be ethical at all.

Joseph Conrad

Imagination, not invention, is the supreme master of art as of life.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Art Imagination Invention Life Master
Give me the right word and the right accent and I will move the world.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Myself Power Right Word World
I don’t like work but I like what is in work – the chance to find yourself. Your own reality – for yourself, not for others – which no other man can ever know.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Chance Discover Reality Work Yourself
There is something haunting in the light of the moon; it has all the dispassionateness of a disembodied soul, and something of its inconceivable mystery.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Light Moon Mystery Passionate Soul
You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Enemy Friendship Judgement Man
Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Deal Difficult Man Terrible Woman
To be a great autocrat you must be a great barbarian.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Achievement Greatness Yourself
The mind of man is capable of anything.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Capability Man Mindset
What makes mankind tragic is not that they are the victims of nature, it is that they are conscious of it.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Conscience Kind Man Nature Tragedy Victim
I have wrestled with death. It is the most unexciting contest you can imagine.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Death Excitement Imagination Yourself
I am afraid that if you want to go down into history you’ll have to do something for it.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Afraid History Inspirational Myself Work Yourself
You know I hate, detest, and can’t bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appals me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies – which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world – what I want to forget.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Death Forget Hate Mortal Myself Simplicity World
It would take too long to explain the intimate alliance of contradictions in human nature which makes love itself wear at times the desperate shape of betrayal. And perhaps there is no possible explanation.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Betrayal Desperate Explanation Human Love Nature Possible Time
The discovery of America was the occasion of the greatest outburst of cruelty and reckless greed known in history.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Cruelty Discover Greatness Greedy History Occasion
It’s extraordinary how we go through life with eyes half shut, with dull ears, with dormant thoughts. Perhaps it’s just as well; and it may be that it is this very dullness that makes life to the incalculable majority so supportable and so welcome.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Extraordinary Eyes Life Support Thinking
He struggled with himself, too. I saw it — I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Bilnd Faith Fear Mystery Soul Struggle

The ethical view of the universe involves us in so many cruel and absurd contradictions that I have come to suspect that the aim of creation cannot be ethical at all.

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The ethical view of the universe involves us in so many cruel and absurd contradictions that I have come to suspect that the aim of creation cannot be ethical at all.

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Popular Authors

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