718 Quotes by Joseph Conrad

I am afraid that if you want to go down into history you’ll have to do something for it.

Admiration was a sentiment unknown to her – first, as always more or less tainted with mediocrity, and next, as being in a way an admission of inferiority. And both were frankly inconceivable to her nature.

They were dying slowly – it was very clear. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now, – nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom.

L’atmosfera di burocrazia ucciderebbe qualsiasi cosa respirasse aria di sforzo umano, estinguerebbe parimenti speranza e timore sotto la supremazia di carta e inchiostro.

A horn tooted to the right, and I saw the black people run.

We talk with indignation or enthusiasm; we talk about oppression, cruelty, crime, devotion, self-sacrifice, virtue, and we know nothing real beyond the words. Nobody knows what suffering or sacrifice mean – except, perhaps the victims of the mysterious purpose of these illusions.

Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway. In the offing the sea and the sky were welded.

Slavery is an awful thing,” stammered out Kayerts in an unsteady voice. “Frightful – the sufferings,” grunted Carlier with conviction.

And this stillness of life did not the least resemble a peace.