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Quote by Mary Butts

Work

The Complete Stories

This book is a compilation of various short stories, showcasing a range of narratives and themes. more

Author

Mary Butts
Mary Butts

Mary Butts was an English writer known for her modernist and avant-garde literary works. Born on December 13, 1890, she was a prominent figure in the literary circles of her time. Her writing often explored complex themes and was characterized by its experimental style. Butts passed away on March 5, 1937, leaving behind a legacy of innovative literature. more

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“(...)entre todas las razas del mundo, nuestra sed, o mejor dicho, nuestra avidez, de tesoros, de oro, de especias y de dominio, ¡oh, si!, sobre todo del dulce dominio, ¡es la más aguda, la más insaciable, la más carente de todo escrúpulo! Es esta avidez la que alimenta nuestro progreso, no sé si con fines diabólicos o divinos. Ni usted tampoco lo sabe, señor. Ni yo tengo el menor interés en saberlo. Simplemente, me alegro de que el Creador me arrojase del lado de los vencedores.”

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Book:Cloud Atlas
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“The invention of the devil. If we are possessed by the devil, it cannot be by one, for then we should live, at least here on earth, quietly, as with God, in unity, without contradiction, without reflection, always sure of the man behind us. His face would not frighten us, for as diabolical beings we would, if somewhat sensitive to the sight, be clever enough to prefer to sacrifice a hand in order to keep his face covered with it. If we were possessed by only a single devil, one who had a calm, untroubled view of our whole nature, and freedom to dispose of us at any moment, then that devil would also have enough power to hold us for the length of a human life high above the spirit of God in us, and even to swing us to and fro, so that we should never get to see a glimmer of it and therefore should not be troubled from that quarter. Only a crowd of devils could account for our earthly misfortunes. Why don’t they exterminate one another until only a single one is left, or why don’t they subordinate themselves to one great devil? Either way would be in accord with the diabolical principle of deceiving us as completely as possible. With unity lacking, of what use is the scrupulous attention all the devils pay us? It simply goes without saying that the falling of a human hair must matter more to the devil than to God, since the devil really loses that hair and God does not. But we still do not arrive at any state of well-being so long as the many devils are within us.”

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Book:Diaries, 1910-1923
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