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Quote by Stuart MacBride

“Ina stood and shuffled over to the urn on the fireplace. Stroked it with a twisted finger. "How are we supposed to get more consecrated soil, now? Taxi drivers always look at you so strangely when you get in with a shovel and say, 'Take me to the nearest graveyard.”

Quote by Stuart MacBride

Book:Close to the Bone
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Close to the Bone

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Author

Stuart MacBride
Stuart MacBride

Stuart MacBride is a Scottish crime novelist known for his works. Born on February 27, 1969, he began his writing career in 1999. MacBride's novels are often set in the Scottish town of Aberdeen, featuring a series of detective stories. more

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“Don’t you see?” he cried. “The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?” “Yes, I see. I do see. But you do not believe this is divine law. Why do you feel its importance?” “Ah!” said Lee. “I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time. I even anticipated your questions and I am well prepared. Any writing which has influenced the thinking and the lives of innumerable people is important. Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who feel the order, ‘Do thou,’ and throw their weight into obedience. And there are millions more who feel predestination in ‘Thou shalt.’ Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. But ‘Thou mayest’! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.” Lee’s voice was a chant of triumph. Adam said, “Do you believe that, Lee?” “Yes, I do. Yes, I do. It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, ‘I couldn’t help it; the way was set.’ But think of the glory of the choice! That makes a man a man. A cat has no choice, a bee must make honey. There’s no godliness there. And do you know, those old gentlemen who were sliding gently down to death are too interested to die now?”

Timshel
Book:East of Eden
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“La palabra hebrea, Timshel, o sea, “tú podrás”, permite escoger. Quizás sea la palabra más importante del mundo, pues da a entender que el camino está abierto y plantea este acuciante problema: si dice “tú podrás”, también es cierto que podría decir “tú no podrás”. ¿No lo comprende? (…) El “tú podrás” hace grande al hombre, lo pone al lado de los dioses, porque a pesar de su debilidad, de su cieno y de haber dado muerte a su hermano, todavía le queda la gran libertad de escoger. Puede escoger su camino, luchar para seguirlo y vencer. La voz de Lee era un himno triunfal. -¿Y usted lo cree? –preguntó Adam. -Sí, lo creo. Lo creo. Es muy fácil salir de la pereza y de la ociosidad y arrojarse en el regazo de la divinidad, diciendo “No puedo evitarlo; el destino estaba escrito”. ¡Pero imaginen la gloria que representa la facultad de escoger! Gracias a ella el hombre es hombre. Un gato no puede escoger, una abeja está obligada a hacer miel. (…) Entonces siento que soy un hombre. Y también que un hombre es algo muy importante, acaso más importante que una estrella. (...) Experimento un nuevo amor por ese resplandeciente instrumento que es el alma humana; es algo maravilloso y único en el universo, siempre atacada y jamás destruida, gracias a ese “tú podrás”.”

LibertadDestinoElecciónTimshel
Book:East of Eden
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“—Estaba pensando en aquel día en que Sam Hamilton, tú y yo tuvimos una larga discusión por una palabra —dijo Adam—. ¿Cuál era esa palabra? —Ah, sí. Esa palabra era timshel. —Timshel… Y tú dijiste… —Yo dije que en esa palabra se encerraba la grandeza de un hombre, si es que él quería aprovecharla. —Recuerdo que eso le causó un gran placer a Sam Hamilton. —Hizo que se sintiese libre —dijo Lee—. Le concedió el derecho de ser un hombre diferente de todos los demás. —Eso significa la soledad. —Todas las cosas grandes y preciosas son solitarias. —Dime otra vez cuál era esa palabra. —Timshel… Tú podrás.”

LibertadSoledadElecciónGrandezaTimshel
Book:East of Eden
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