How strange to have failed as a social creature—even criminals do not fail that way—they are the law's "Loyal Opposition," so to speak. But the insane are always mere guests on earth, eternal strangers carrying around broken decalogues that they cannot read.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the isolation and disconnect of those deemed insane, contrasting their existence with that of criminals who are recognized members of society.
In this quote, F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the tragic condition of individuals labeled as insane, highlighting their profound alienation from social norms and human experiences. Unlike criminals, who maintain a role in the societal structure as the 'Loyal Opposition,' the insane live as perpetual outsiders, misunderstood and unable to comprehend the moral codes that govern society. Their existence is likened to that of 'eternal strangers,' suggesting a deep sense of loss and the inability to connect with the world around them.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion on mental health awareness to highlight societal attitudes toward the mentally ill.
Don't be so anxious about it,' she laughed. 'I'm not used to being loved. I wouldn't know what to do; I never got the trick of it.' She looked down at him, shy and fatigued. 'So here we are. I told you years ago that I had the makings of Cinderella.' He took her hand; she drew it back instinctively and then replaced it in his. 'Beg your pardon. Not even used to being touched. But I'm not afraid of you, if you stay quiet and don't move suddenly.
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
It was about then [1920] that I wrote a line which certain people will not let me forget: "She was a faded but still lovely woman of twenty-seven."
The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.
But you can love more than just one person, can't you?
A sudden gust of rain blew over them and then another - as if small liquid clouds were bouncing along the land. Lightning entered the sea far off and the air blew full of crackling thunder. The table cloths blew around the pillars. They blew and blew and blew. The flags twisted around the red chairs like live things, the banners were ragged, the corners of the table tore off through the burbling billowing ends of the cloths.
India has 2,000,000 gods and worships them all. In religion, all other countries are paupers; India is the only millionaire.
Heathenism is a state of mind. You can take it that I'm referring to one who does not see his world. He has no mental light. He destroys almost unwittingly. He cannot feel any Gods presence in his life. He is the 21st century man.
When all the arguments have been forgotten, this central fact will remain. The two nations fought a single war, and their quarrels were the quarrels of brothers.
When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.
His face is livid, gaunt his whole body, his breath is green with gall; his tongue drips poison.
A critic is to an author as a fungus to an oak.
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