“I deplore brutality,” he said. “It’s not efficient. On the other hand, prolonged mistreatment, short of physical violence, gives rise, when skillfully applied, to anxiety and a feeling of special guilt. A few rules or rather guiding principles are to be borne in mind. The subject must not realize that the mistreatment is a deliberateContinue reading “RKS Literature: A Preference for Prolonged Mistreatment Over Brutality (William S. Burroughs)”
Category Archives: literature
RKS Literature: Senior Geezers and Junkies (William S. Burroughs)
“I made the round with him once for kicks. You know how old people lose all shame about eating, and it makes you puke to watch them? Old junkies are the same about junk. They gibber and squeal at the sight of it. The spit hangs off their chin, and their stomach rumbles and allContinue reading “RKS Literature: Senior Geezers and Junkies (William S. Burroughs)”
RKS Literature: The Russian Love for Vodka Leaves No Room For Port! (Bulgakov)
“Styopa Likodeyev no longer has to talk on the phone at the Variety. After being discharged from the clinic where he spent eight days, Styopa was transferred to Rostov, where he was appointed manager of a large speciality foods store. Rumor has it that he has sworn off port completely and drinks only vodka steepedContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Russian Love for Vodka Leaves No Room For Port! (Bulgakov)”
RKS Literature: The Devil’s Angel Does Not Like Conversing with a Woman in Love! (Bulgakov)
“No scenes, no scenes.” retorted Azazello with a grimace. “You should put yourself in my position. Smacking some bureaucrat in the puss, booting out some old geezer, shooting someone, or anything along those lines, that’s my real speciality, but talking with a woman in love-no thanks.” Mikhail Bulgakov, “The Master and Margarita”, 1966.
RKS Literature: At the Devil’s Ball (Bulgakov)
“And in general, may I be so bold as to offer you some advice, Margarita Nikolayevna, never ever be afraid of anything. That’s unwise. The ball will be lavish, that I won’t try to hide from you. We’ll see some people that wielded power in their day. But, truly, when one thinks how microscopically smallContinue reading “RKS Literature: At the Devil’s Ball (Bulgakov) “
RKS Literature: The Sovereignty of the American People (Vonnegut)
“The sovereignty of the United States resides in the people, not the machines, and it’s the people to take back if they so wish. The machines,” said Paul, “have exceeded the personal sovereignty willingly surrendered to them by the American people for good government. Machines and the pursuit of efficiency have robbed the American peopleContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Sovereignty of the American People (Vonnegut)”
RKS Literature: The Fork on the Road (Vonnegut)
“Every child older than six knew the fork, and knew what the good guys did here, and what the bad guys did here. The fork was a familiar one in folk tales the world over, and the good guys and the bad guys, whether in chaps, breechclouts, serapes, leopardskins or banker’s grey pinstripes, all separatedContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Fork on the Road (Vonnegut)”
RKS Literature: What Are Public Relations? (Vonnegut)
“Please, what are public relations?” said Kashdrahr. “That profession, “said Haylard, quoting by memory from the Manual, “that profession specializing in the cultivation, by applied psychology in mass communication media, of favorable public opinion with regard to controversial issues and institutions, without being offensive to anyone of importance, and the continued stability of the economyContinue reading “RKS Literature: What Are Public Relations? (Vonnegut)”
RKS Literature: Proper Corporate Drinking (Vonnegut)
“There wasn’t the inimitable hoarseness of an honest-to-God drunk in the lot. It was unthinkable that there was a man in the saloon without a glass in his hand, but it was also unlikely that many men would have their glass filled more than twice. They didn’t drink at the Meadows now the way thatContinue reading “RKS Literature: Proper Corporate Drinking (Vonnegut)”
RKS Literature: Proper Corporate Drinking (Vonnegut)
“There wasn’t the inimitable hoarseness of an honest-to-God drunk in the lot. It was unthinkable that there was a man in the saloon without a glass in his hand, but it was also unlikely that many men would have their glass filled more than twice. They didn’t drink at the Meadows now the way thatContinue reading “RKS Literature: Proper Corporate Drinking (Vonnegut)”
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