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The Way of All Flesh

Book by Samuel Butler · 17 quotes · Will Raven, Men, Parents

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The Way of All Flesh Quotes

“All our lives long, every day and every hour, we are engaged in the process of accommodating our changed and unchanged selves to changed and unchanged surroundings: living, in fact, is nothing else than this process of accommodation; when we fail in it a little, we are stupid, when flagrantly we are mad, when we give up the attempt altogether we die, when we suspend it temporarily we sleep. In quiet eventless lives the changes internal and external are so small that there is little or no strain in the process of fusion and accommodation; in other lives there is great strain, but there is also great fusing and accommodating power; in others great strain with little accommodating power. A life will be successful or not according as the power of accommodation is equal to or unequal to the strain of fusing and adjusting internal and external changes.”

LifeChangeAdapting To Change
Book:The Way of All Flesh
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“Sarah had been speaking the truth when she said she didn’t dislike him, but she did dislike his presumption of superiority over her, as she disliked it in all young men. Given the same chance, she was confident she would excel over any of them, so it stung when all they saw was a housemaid. Out of necessity, Raven was looking beyond that. Or at least she was offering him the occasion to. She hoped he didn’t disappoint.”

Self EsteemWill RavenSarah Fisher
Book:The Way of All Flesh
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“Embryos think with each stage of their development that they have now reached the only condition that really suits them. This, they say, must certainly be their last, inasmuch as its close will be so great a shock that nothing can survive it. Every change is a shock; every shock is a pro tanto death. What we call death is only a shock great enough to destroy our power to recognize a past and a present as resembling one another.”

Death
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“Wouldn’t it calm your spirits to be reading a book instead?’ Sarah suggested. Mina’s expression indicated that this was a notion so self-evident as to be stupid, and was about to explain why. ‘Of course I would rather be reading. I would spend all my days reading if I could. But for reasons passing understanding, embroidery is considered a desirable accomplishment in a prospective wife, and therefore it is incumbent upon me to master it, such is my lot. So for pity’s sake, bring tea or I shall run mad.”

ReadingLove Of Books
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“She had a purple shawl wrapped around her shoulders and her hair was loosely tied at the nape. Hill stepped back and examined her from several angles before announcing that he was content. He implored her to remain as still as possible, looking pointedly at Raven. Sarah exhibited no similar difficulty, remaining entirely immobile as though she had fallen into an open-eyed trance. She was not the only one. Raven found himself gazing rapt at her face, the paleness of her skin, the golden highlights in her hair. A sense of tranquility settled upon him, as though the serenity of her stillness had somehow been transferred to him. ‘You seem transfixed,’ observed Hill quietly, walking past. ‘A pity you could not have held such a pose earlier.”

LovestruckWill RavenSarah Fisher
Book:The Way of All Flesh
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