Quote by Leo Tolstoy

When a man sees a dying animal, horror comes over him: that which he himself is, his essence, is obviously being annihilated before his eyes--is ceasing to be. But when the dying one is a person, and a beloved person, then, besides a sense of horror at the annihilation of life, there is a feeling of severance and a spiritual wound which, like a physical wound, sometimes kills and sometimes heals, but always hurts and fears any external, irritating touch.


When a man sees a dying animal, horror comes over him: that

Summary

This quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky explores the profound emotional impact of witnessing the death of a loved one. It highlights the contrasting reactions between witnessing the death of an animal versus a human being. The horror felt in seeing an animal perish comes from the recognition that life is ending. However, when the dying individual is a beloved person, the experience becomes much deeper. In addition to the horror of death, there is a sense of disconnection and a spiritual wound that can be as damaging as a physical injury, creating fear and vulnerability to any external triggers.

Topics

Death
By Leo Tolstoy
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