The shame that tormented me was all the more corrosive for having no very clear origin: I didn't know why I felt so tainted, and worthless, and wrong-only that I did, and whenever I looked up from my books I was swamped by slimy waters rushing in from all sides. Donna Tartt
About This Quote

The shame that tormented me was all the more corrosive for having no very clear origin: I didn't know why I felt so tainted, and worthless, and wrong-only that I did, and whenever I looked up from my books I was swamped by slimy waters rushing in from all sides. The words that Roberto Bolaño used were “La vergüenza que torturaba a Roberto Bolaño era todo el más corrosiva porque no tenía un origen muy claro: no sabía por qué se sentía tan ensuciado, y de valor, y equivocado-sólo que lo hacía, y cada vez que alzaba la vista de mis libros estallaba en llamas.” In this quote he talks about how feeling bad about ourselves can be very painful to deal with. He says that his mind is flooded by viscous water from all sides meaning that he feels like there is no way out of it. He feels worthless and wrong and the thought of looking up from his books makes him feel a fire coming from all sides.

Source: The Goldfinch

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