Quote

In the deeper layers of the modern consciousnessevery attempt to succeed is an act of aggression, leaving one alone and guilty and defenseless among enemies: one is punished for success. This is our intolerable dilemma: that failure is a kind of death and success is evil and dangerous, is--ultimately--impossible.

Robert Warshow

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Robert Warshow
Age: 37 †
Born: 1917
Born: January 1
Died: 1955
Died: January 1
Author
Film Critic
Journalist
Literary Critic
New York City
New York
Success
Succeed
Aggression
Evil
Failure
Layers
Death
Among
Attempt
Kind
Dangerous
Enemies
Modern
Ultimately
Defenseless
Enemy
Guilty
Intolerable
Impossible
Leaving
Punished
Alone
Deeper
Dilemma

More quotes by Robert Warshow

Image
A man goes to the movies. The critic must be honest enough to admit that he is that man.
Robert Warshow
Image
Modern equalitarian societies whether democratic or authoritarian in their political forms, always base themselves on the claim that they are making life happier. Happiness thus becomes the chief political issue -- in a sense, the only political issue -- and for that reason it can never be treated as an issue at all.
Robert Warshow
Image
Nobody seriously questions the principle that it is the function of mass culture to maintain public morale, and certainly nobody in the mass audience objects to having his morale maintained.
Robert Warshow