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Quote by Han Kang

“Is it true that human beings are fundamentally cruel? Is the experience of cruelty the only thing we share as a species? Is the dignity that we cling to nothing but self-delusion, masking from ourselves the single truth: that each one of us is capable of being reduced to an insect, a ravening beast, a lump of meat? To be degraded, slaughtered - is this the essential of humankind, one which history has confirmed as inevitable?”

Quote by Han Kang

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Human Acts

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Han Kang

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“For God's sake," I begged, "let me inside. Or just tell my son we're here. Tell him to come out, just for a moment." Your brother couldn't stand by any longer; he declared that he'd go and fetch you out himself, but one of the militiamen shook his head. "If you go in now, that's it, we can't let you back out again. Everyone who's stayed behind has decided to do so at their own risk. They're all prepared to die if they have to." When your brother raised his voice to say that he understood and was prepared to go in anyway, I quickly cut him off. "There's no need," I said, "Dong-ho'll come home as soon as he gets the chance. He made a promise...." I said it because it was so dark all around us, because I was imagining soldiers springing out of the darkness at any moment. Because I was afraid of losing yet another son. And that was how I lost you.”