(no subject)

[toujours_nigel]

Fed neither by Heaven nor by Earth he was going forward, a lamp that would have blown out, were materialism true. He hadn’t a God, he hadn’t a lover—the two usual incentives to virtue. But on he struggled with his back to ease, because dignity demanded it.—E.M. Forster, Maurice.

 

It isn’t as unique as it sounds, is it? Pride demands it, the sheer bloody-minded determination to let nobody see you’re bleeding out demands it. Because, by gods, we mayn’t be anything else, but damned (already damned, religion and inclination and utter lack of regret) if I’ll be pitied.