There lived a redheaded man who had no eyes or ears. He didn’t have hair either, so he was called a redhead arbitrarily. He couldn’t talk because he had no mouth. He had no nose either. He didn’t even have arms or legs. He had no stomach, he had no back, he had no spine, and he had no innards at all. He didn’t have anything. So we don’t even know who we’re talking about. It’s better that we don’t talk about him any more.
Interpretation
The quote illustrates the absurdity of existence and challenges conventional notions of identity.
Daniil Kharms’ quote presents a character stripped of all conventional attributes, emphasizing the futility of labeling and understanding an entity that lacks essential human characteristics. This absurd representation serves as a critique of how we often define individuals by superficial traits, suggesting that true identity is more complex than mere appearances or labels. In the end, it raises questions about existence itself and invites us to ponder on what it means to truly know someone.
In practice
In a discussion about the nature of existence, one might quote Kharms to highlight the futility of relying solely on physical attributes for identity.
Look at the great tradition of Western political philosophy. Those people were all immersed in revolutionary movements. Most weren't career academics - often, they were too radical to be accepted in the academy. Rousseau's books were banned. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill couldn't hold academic positions because they were atheists.
I am simultaneously and contradictorily both happy and unhappy: 'to succeed' or 'to fail' have for me only ephemeral, contingent meanings (this does not stop my desires and sorrows from being violent ones); what impels me, secretly and obstinately, is not tactical: I accept and I affirm, irrespective of the true and the false, of success and failure; I am withdrawn from all finality, I live according to chance.
What a fool I was! and yet, in the sight of angels, are we any wiser as we grow older? It seems to me, only, that our illusions change as we go on; but, still, we are madmen all the same.
The agony of my feelings allowed me no respite; no incident occurred from which my rage and misery could not extract its food.
God doesn't ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful. However beautiful our work may be, let us not become attached to it. Always remain prepared to give it up, without losing your peace.
You and your sins must separate, or you and your God will never come together.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.