Thomas Mann - What did one see if one looked in any depth...

What did one see if one looked in any depth into the world of this writer's fiction? Elegant self-control concealing from the world's eyes until the very last moment a state of inner disintegration and biological decay; sallow ugliness, sensuously marred and worsted, which nevertheless is able to fan its smouldering concupiscence to a pallid impotence, which from the glowing depths of the spirit draws strength to cast down a whole proud people at the foot of the Cross and set its own foot upon them as well; gracious poise and composure in the empty austere service of form; the false, dangerous life of the born deceiver, his ambition and his art which lead so soon to exhaustion ---

Thomas Mann

They Said So®

Thomas Mann Quotes

;

What did one see if one looked in any depth into the world of this writer's fiction? Elegant self-control concealing from the world's eyes until the very last moment a state of inner disintegration and biological decay; sallow ugliness, sensuously marred and worsted, which nevertheless is able to fan its smouldering concupiscence to a pallid impotence, which from the glowing depths of the spirit draws strength to cast down a whole proud people at the foot of the Cross and set its own foot upon them as well; gracious poise and composure in the empty austere service of form; the false, dangerous life of the born deceiver, his ambition and his art which lead so soon to exhaustion --- Thomas Mann

They Said So®

Keywords

looked depth world writer' fiction elegant -control concealing world' eyes moment state disintegration biological decay sallow ugliness sensuously marred worsted fan smouldering concupiscence pallid impotence glowing depths spirit draws strength cast proud people foot cross set gracious poise composure empty austere service form false dangerous life born deceiver ambition art lead exhaustion ---

Explore other Authors

Senator John Kerry

David Sedaris

Bill Watterson

James Larkin

Mary Ann Shaffer

Alice Miller

Nema Al-Araby

Oscar Levant

Joseph Smith Jr.

Ben E. King

Edvard Munch

Victoria Principal

If you are using this quote in any webpage , printmedia or any other places please use the following methods to cite this quotation.

MLA Style Citation

"A quote by Thomas Mann" theysaidso.com, 2024. Apr 19, 2024. https://theysaidso.com/quote/thomas-mann-what-did-one-see-if-one-looked-in-any-depth-into-the-world-of-this-w

APA Style Citation

"A quote by Thomas Mann" (n.d.). theysaidso.com. Retrieved Apr 19, 2024, from theysaidso.com web site : https://theysaidso.com/quote/thomas-mann-what-did-one-see-if-one-looked-in-any-depth-into-the-world-of-this-w

Chicago Style Citation

"A quote by Thomas Mann". theysaidso.com, 2024. https://theysaidso.com/quote/thomas-mann-what-did-one-see-if-one-looked-in-any-depth-into-the-world-of-this-w , accessed Apr 19, 2024.

Comments

Authentication required

You must log in to post a comment.

There are no comments yet.