There exists, at the bottom of all abasement and misfortune, a last extreme which rebels and joins battle with the forces of law and respectability in a desperate struggle, waged partly by cunning and partly by violence, at once sick and ferocious, in which it attacks the prevailing social order with the pin-pricks of vice and the hammer-blows of crime.

Summary

This quote suggests that even in the face of extreme hardship and degradation, there is a point where someone may choose to resist and revolt against the established norms and values of society. This rebellion is described as a fierce and desperate struggle, employing both deceit and brute force. It challenges the existing social order through acts of immorality and criminal behavior. The quote implies that this rebellious defiance arises when a person feels utterly marginalized and cornered, resorting to any means necessary to fight back against the oppressive forces of law and respectability.

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