Philosophy Bite #8 - Rhinoceros

rhino 1

I have just finished reading Rhinoceros, a play by Frenchman Eugene Ionesco. Below I have shared some of my favorite quotes of the play. This play entails much philosophical and logical banter as more of the population of a small town turn in to horned beasts. The story contains characters from ordinary life battling the forces of bigotry, conformity, boredom and ostracism. The play is existentialist as well, since the main character must find a reason to remain human within himself, in spite of all the evidence that points to a supposedly better life as a rhinoceros.

"Life is an abnormal business."
- Berenger

"There are more dead people than living. And their numbers are increasing. The living are getting rarer."
- Berenger

"I sometimes wonder if I exist myself."
- Berenger

"Life is a struggle. It is cowardly not to put up a fight."
- Jean

"Fear is an illogical thing. It must yield to reason."
- The Logician

"I feel responsible for everything that happens. I feel involved. I just can't be indifferent."
- Berenger

". . . one must always make an effort to understand. . . .that's essential to a scientific mentality. Everything is logical. To understand is to justify."
- Dudard

"I'm simply trying to look the fact unemotionally in the face. I'm trying to be realistic. I also contend that there is no real evil in what occurs naturally. I don't believe in seeing evil in everything. I leave that to the inquisitors."
- Dudard

"I feel a bit ashamed of what you call love - this morbid feeling, this male weakness. And female, too."
- Daisy

"People who hang on to their individuality always come to a bad end."
- Berenger

"I'm the last man left and I'm staying that way until the end. I'm not capitulating!"
- Berenger

- Ryu
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