How would I explain to him that I couldn’t make peace with him? How would I explain that if I did I would immediately lose my inner balance? How would I explain that one of the arms of my internal scales would suddenly shoot upward? How would I explain that my hatred of him counterbalanced the weight of evil that had fallen on my youth? How would I explain that he embodied all the evils in my life? How would I explain to him that I needed to hate him? . Milan Kundera
About This Quote

The above quote is the last words written by the main character of Tarkovsky's Stalker, who is being held captive by a Strelok, a man who has been sent to kill him. The Strelok, recalling his own childhood experiences, frequently describes himself as being "unbalanced" and "strange." As the Stalker was about to be executed, the Strelok turned toward him saying, "How would I explain to you that I couldn't make peace with you? How would I explain that if I did I would immediately lose my inner balance? How would I explain that one of my arms would suddenly shoot upward? How would I explain that my hatred of you counterbalanced the weight of evil against which my youth had fallen? How would I explain to you that you embodied all the evils in my life?"

Source: The Joke

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