Read soon after Heart of Darkness, and still in Africa, so the idea of reading his Russian story did not appeal. Liked it, though it lacked - for me - the enticing darkness of his masterpiece.
"The islands are very quiet. One sees them lying about, clothed in their dark garments of leaves, in a great hush of silver and azure, where the sea without murmurs meets the sky in a ring of magic stillness. A sort of smiling somnolence broods over them, the very voices of their people are soft and subdued, as if afraid to break some protecting spell."
"But there is an unholy fascination in systematic noise. [...] The Zangiacomo band was not making music; it was simply murdering silence with a vulgar, ferocious energy. One felt as if witnessing a deed of violence; and that impression was so strong that it seemed marvellous to see the people sitting so quietly on their chairs, drinking so calmly out of their glasses, and giving no signs of distress, anger, or fear."
"For the use of reason is to justify the obscure desires that move our conduct, impulses, passons, prejudices, and follies, and also our fears."
"For every age is fed on illusions, lest men should renounce life early and the human race come to an end."
"Man on this earth is an unforeseen accident which does not stand close investigation."
"He was really a decent fellow, he was quite unfitted for this world, he was a failure, a good man cornered - a sight for the gods, for no decent mortal cares to look at that sort."
"A woman in a problem is an incalculable quantity, even if you have something to go upon in forming your guess."
