Life is, in fact, a battle. Evil is insolent and strong: beauty enchanting but rare; goodness very apt to be weak; folly very apt to be defiant; wickedness to carry the day; imbeciles to be in great places, peolpe of sense in small, and mankind generally unhappy. But the world as it stands is no illusion, no phantasm, no evil dream of a night; we wake up to it again for ever and ever; we can neither forget it nor deny it nor dispense with it.

Summary

This quote acknowledges the harsh realities of life, highlighting the struggles and imbalances that exist. It conveys the idea that evil is often strong, while goodness may struggle. It suggests that stupidity and wickedness often prosper, leaving people of reason and sensibility in minor roles, resulting in widespread unhappiness. The quote emphasizes that this world is not an illusion or temporary nightmare, but an enduring truth that we must continually face and grapple with. It expresses the inescapable nature of the world we live in and our inability to ignore or eliminate its negative aspects.

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