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Quote by M. John Harrison

“When the landed gentry cut up a seed cake for tea it makes no difference to the cake which of them holds the knife; whoever 'won' Earth's war, it would be the same old crew who stepped up afterward to hold out their plates.”

Quote by M. John Harrison

Work

The Centauri Device

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Author

M. John Harrison
M. John Harrison

M. John Harrison, born on July 26, 1945, is a British author known for his unique perspective and profound insights across various genres, including history, science fiction, and literature. more

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“I heard exactly the same thing, a long time ago to be sure, from a doctor,' the elder remarked. 'He was then an old man, and unquestionably intelligent. He spoke just as frankly as you, humorously, but with a sorrowful humor. "I love mankind," he said, "but I am amazed at myself: the more I love mankind in general, the less I love people in particular, that is, individually, as separate persons. In my dreams," he said, "I often went so far as to think passionately of serving mankind, and, it may be, would really have gone to the cross for people if it were somehow suddenly necessary, and yet I am incapable of living in the same room with anyone even for two days; this I know from experience. As soon as someone is there, close to me, his personality oppresses my self-esteem and restricts my freedom. In twenty-four hours I can begin to hate even the best of men: one because he takes too long eating his dinner, another because he has a cold and keeps blowing his nose. I become the enemy of people the moment they touch me," he said. "On the other hand, it has always happened that the more I hate people individually, the more ardent becomes my love for humanity as a whole."''But what is to be done, then?”