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.

Summary

This quote reflects on the tremendous sense of isolation and failure experienced by individuals who are considered socially unsuccessful, such as the insane. Unlike criminals who, in their opposition to the law, still maintain a sense of belonging to society, the mentally ill are perpetually outsiders. They carry their own personal set of rules, represented by broken decalogues they cannot comprehend. The quote highlights the deep alienation and disconnect faced by those struggling with mental health, emphasizing their profound disconnection from the social fabric of humanity.

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