The Arrow of Gold · Chapter
Epigraph explained
The chapter opens with a French epigraph from 'Caractères', suggesting that those who have only known polite and reasonable men either do not know man at all, or know him only halfway.
What happens
The chapter opens with a French epigraph from 'Caractères', suggesting that those who have only known polite and reasonable men either do not know man at all, or know him only halfway.
Themes in this chapter
Illusion vs. Reality
The epigraph hints at the deceptive nature of outward civility, contrasting surface politeness with deeper, less rational truths about human nature.
Key passages
“Celui qui n’a connu que des hommes polis et raisonnables, ou ne connait pas l’homme, ou ne le connait qu’a demi.”
He who has only known polite and reasonable men either does not know man at all, or knows him only halfway.
The epigraph sets a tone of skepticism about surface appearances, suggesting that true understanding requires encountering the irrational or uncivilized side of humanity.