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Quote by John Wyndham

“In the last few years we had learnt more of the people round us, and the way they felt. What had seemed, five or six years ago, a kind of rather disquieting game had grown grimmer as we understood more about it. Essentially, it had not changed. Still our whole consideration if we were to survive must be to keep our true selves hidden; to walk, talk, and live indistinguishably from other people. We had a gift, a sense which, Michael complained bitterly, should have been a blessing, but was little better than a curse. The stupidest norm was happier; he could feel that he belonged. We did not, and because we did not, we had no positive — we were condemned to negatives, to not revealing ourselves, to not speaking when we would, to not using what we knew, to not being found out — to a life of perpetual deception, concealment, and lying. The prospect of continued negativeness stretching out ahead chafed him more than it did the rest of us. His imagination took him further, giving him a clearer vision of what such frustrations were going to mean, but it was no better at suggesting an alternative than ours were.”

Quote by John Wyndham

Work

The chrysalids

In this thought-provoking novel, John Wyndham explores themes of genetic purity, societal control, and the struggle for survival. The protagonist, David, lives in a world where only those with 'perfect' genetic traits are accepted. As he learns more about his own unique condition, he must confront the harsh realities of his society and fight for his place in it. more

Author

John Wyndham
John Wyndham

John Wyndham was an English science fiction writer known for his novels that often explore social and environmental issues. His works are renowned for their unique imagination and profound insights. more

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“In my country, anything is possible, If you are a criminal, an illegal foreigner, or a politician. You can do whatever you want and can have all the money you want in the world. But if you are not one of them, you suffer and struggle for even the smallest things.”