The process of writing has something infinite about it. Even though it is interrupted each night, it is one single notation.
Elias CanettiRead
The fear of burglars is not only the fear of being robbed, but also the fear of a sudden and unexpected clutch out of the darkness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the deep-seated anxiety that comes not just from the threat of theft but from the unsettling nature of unpredictability.
Elias Canetti's quote delves into the psychological aspect of fear, emphasizing that the true terror of potential burglary extends beyond the material loss of possessions. It shines a light on the broader implications of fear itself, highlighting how the mere possibility of an unforeseen event, such as an intruder appearing suddenly and unexpectedly, can exacerbate feelings of vulnerability and insecurity in our lives.
Themes
FearVulnerabilityBurglaryAnxietyThe Unexpected
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about personal safety and home security, one might quote Canetti to highlight the emotional impact of fear.
More from Elias Canetti
All quotes βThe paranoiac is the exact image of the ruler. The only difference is their position in the world. One might even think the paranoiac the more impressive of the two because he is sufficient unto himself and cannot be shaken by failure.
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People's fates are simplified by their names.
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There is no such thing as an ugly language. Today I hear every language as if it were the only one, and when I hear of one that is dying, it overwhelms me as though it were the death of the earth.
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Everything one records contains a grain of hope, no matter how deeply it may come from despair.
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The profoundest thoughts of the philosophers have something trickle about them. A lot disappears in order for something to suddenly appear in the palm of the hand.
Elias CanettiRead
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There are many female gods recognized and honored by the tribes and Nations. Femaleness was highly valued, both respected and feared, and all social institutions reflected this attitude. Even modern sayings, such as the Cheyenne statement that a people is not conquered until the hearts of the women are on the ground, express the Indians understanding that without the power of woman the people will not live, but with it, they will endure and prosper.
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Since the masses of the people are inconstant, full of unruly desires, passionate, and reckless of consequences, they must be filled with fears to keep them in order. The ancients did well, therefore, to invent gods, and the belief in punishment after death.
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We all make mistakes, we all have fears, and we all have weaknesses. Behind all that is our essential self. When our essential self has made contact with another, the light is dazzling and would fill the universe. The challenge of enchantment is to remain faithful to that light, to believe in it when it is not so apparent. Then that light becomes an incandescent glow and it wraps itself around everything.
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From craving arises sorrow, from craving arises fear, but he who is freed from craving has no sorrow and certainly no fear.
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