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What's the underrated quote that will stick with you for life? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 days ago by needthosepylons@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Even better if you can provide your own understanding of its meaning.

Mine would be :

"Nothing kills a man as much as being forced to represent a country" (and err considering the context, I must stress it has nothing to do with the current US shitshow), by a WW1 soldier, illustrator and writer named Jacques Vaché.

For me it just means being forced into representing a group (national, of course, but maybe also social, racial, sexual, professional, any kind of group) or defining one's identity only by reference to a group is to be avoided at all costs.

Note : Its not the same, imho, as engaging in a collective struggle or defense against a common oppression.

How about you?

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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Given his political leanings, very appropriate.

TBH his writing style was a bit adjective-y too, although the world he built is fascinating. (I know less about his many letters and journals)

[–] BreadOven@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah...I try to not dwell on his questionable (very wrong and racist) ideas he had, and focus on the cosmic horror. 100 % adjective-y (never really thought about his work like that, but it's too true haha).

I just liked the quote disregarding his ideas. I even used it on the cover page of my thesis.

I do quite like the memes of HP's most nightmarish situation being in an elevator with a Welsh person, or having AC. They're pretty spot on.

Anyways, I just wanted to make sure no one thought I agree with his views, I just like the cosmic horror.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 hour ago

Yeah, sorry, didn't mean to put you on the spot. I see how I did that now.

To give another example illustrating the quote, Tolkien called himself an anarcho-monarchist and meant it. His explanation did not make it clearer what that means.