Quote by Julian Barnes
He thought of trying to explain something he had recently noticed about himself: that if anyone insulted him, or one of his friends, he didn't really mind--or not much, anyway. Whereas if anyone insulted a novel, a story, a poem that he loved, something visceral and volcanic occurred within him. He wasn't sure what this might mean--except perhaps that he had got life and art mixed up, back to front, upside down.
Summary
This quote highlights a peculiar observation about the speaker's emotional response when encountered with insults. Rather than being deeply affected by personal insults, the speaker remains significantly unperturbed. Conversely, when encountering derogatory comments directed towards beloved works of literature, a strong and passionate reaction arises within him. This realization suggests that the speaker may have blurred the lines between the significance he attributes to art and the importance he places on his own life. It compels the speaker to introspect and question the priorities he has unknowingly assigned to life and art.
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