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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

A man is a worker. If he is not that he is nothing.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Himself Man Work
The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Appearance Different Earth 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
The scrupulous and the just, the noble, humane, and devoted natures; the unselfish and the intelligent may begin a movement – but it passes away from them. They are not the leaders of a revolution. They are its victims.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Devotion Human Leadership Nature Noble Revolution Selfish Victim
It is respectable to have no illusions, and safe, and profitable and dull.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Illusion Profit Respect Safety
But it is like a running blaze on a plain, like a flash of lightning in the clouds. We live in the flicker – may it last as long as the old earth keeps rolling!
JOSEPH CONRAD

Earth Light Live Old Run
History repeats itself, but the special call of an art which has passed away is never reproduced. It is as utterly gone out of the world as the song of a destroyed wild bird.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Art Bird Destroy History Repeat Reproduction Song Wild World
I slipped the book into my pocket. I assure you to leave off reading was like tearing myself away from the shelter of an old and solid friendship.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Books Friendship Leaving Old Pocket Solid
All creative art is magic, is evocation of the unseen in forms persuasive, enlightening, familiar and surprising.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Art Creative Magic Surprise
We can never cease to be ourselves.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Be Yourself One Liner Ourselves
Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Face Hard Time Inspirational Way
Everybody had to be thoroughly understood before being accepted.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Acceptance Discover Patience Right Understand
A writer without interest or sympathy for the foibles of his fellow man is not conceivable as a writer.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Interest Sympathy Writing
To have his path made clear for him is the aspiration of every human being in our beclouded and tempestuous existence.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Aspiration Clear Existence Human Path Temper
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
Vanity plays lurid tricks with our memory, and the truth of every passion wants some pretence to make it live.
JOSEPH CONRAD

Live Memories Passion Pretend Truth

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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