You can't imagine how stupid the whole world has grown nowadays.
Nikolai GogolRead
At the end of the table, the secretary was reading the decision in some case, but in such a mournful and monotonous voice, that the condemned man himself would have fallen asleep while listening to it. The judge, no doubt, would have been the first of all to do so, had he not entered into an engrossing conversation while it was going on.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the indifference and monotony present in legal proceedings, showing how easily one can become disengaged from serious matters.
In this quote, Gogol highlights the cold and uninspired nature of legal proceedings, where even the most serious decisions can be delivered in a manner that induces boredom rather than reverence. The secretary’s mournful and monotonous reading suggests a lack of empathy or urgency regarding the fate of the condemned man, emphasizing a deeper commentary on the human capacity for apathy in bureaucratic systems. It serves as a critique of how detached individuals can become from the gravity of justice and morality.
Themes
LawIndifferenceMonotonyJusticeApathy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of empathetic legal practices.
More from Nikolai Gogol
All quotes →Two turtle doves will show thee Where my cold ashes lie And sadly murmuring tell thee How in tears I did die
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Nothing could be more pleasant than to live in solitude, enjoy the spectacle of nature, and occasionally read some book.
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I here ask pardon of all my compatriots for everything of which I have been guilty towards them. I know that, by my ill-considered and immature works, I have brought distress to many and that I have even provoked others to attack me openly and, in general, have produced displeasure in many.
Nikolai GogolRead
If you have not first pondered the entire situation of the man whom you wish to help, and if you have not brought with you instructions for him to follow henceforth in leading his life, he will not receive great good from your help.
Nikolai GogolRead
There are certain words which are nearer and dearer to a man than any others.
Nikolai GogolRead
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