Listen, my friend, there are two races of beings. The masses teeming and happy --common clay, if you like --eating, breeding, working, counting their pennies; people who just live; ordinary people; people you can't imagine dead. And then there are the others --the noble ones, the heroes. The ones you can quite well imagine lying shot, pale and tragic; one minute triumphant with a guard of honor, and the next being marched away between two gendarmes.

Summary

This quote highlights the distinction between ordinary people and extraordinary individuals. The "masses" refer to the majority of people who live mundane lives, focused on basic necessities and everyday activities. On the other hand, the "noble ones, the heroes" are depicted as exceptional beings, capable of great triumphs and sacrifices. The quote suggests that while the masses may be content with their lives, it is the heroes who possess the potential for greatness, but also face the possibility of tragic outcomes.

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