They trespassed upon my thoughts. They were intruders whose knowledge of life was to me an irritating pretense, because I felt so sure they could not possibly know the things I knew. Their bearing, which was simply the bearing of commonplace individuals going about their business in the assurance of perfect safety, was offensive to me like the outrageous flauntings of folly in the face of a danger it is unable to comprehend. I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself from laughing in their faces, so full of stupid importance. .Joseph Conrad
About This Quote
In this quote, Dickens is making a rather strong statement. He is not saying that he does not want to be enlightened by others, but rather that he has no patience with the idea that others need to be enlightened by him. We think we know what is going on in the world and we assume that others will agree with us. This is a dangerous assumption to make and it may lead to unnecessary conflict.
Source: Heart Of Darkness
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More Quotes By Joseph Conrad
- Droll thing life is -- that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose. The most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself -- that comes too late -- a crop of inextinguishable regrets.
- Few men realize that their life, the very essence of their character, their capabilities and their audacities, are only the expression of their belief in the safety of their surroundings.
- My task, which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel--it is, before all, to make you see.
- Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it.
- Perhaps life is just that... a dream and a fear