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Ever since the French Revolution, people throughout the world have gradually come to see both equality and individual freedom as fundamental values. Yet the two values contradict each other. Equality can be ensured only by curtailing the freedoms of those who are better off. Guaranteeing that every individual will be free to do as he wishes inevitably short-changes equality.

Myths and fictions accustomed people, nearly from the moment of birth, to think in certain ways, to behave in accordance with certain standards, to want certain things, and to observe certain rules. They thereby created artificial instincts that enabled millions of strangers to cooperate effectively. This network of artificial instincts is called culture’.

"যারা আপন ছিলো, তারা আস্তে আস্তে সব পর হয়ে যাবে। কিন্তু যারা এখনো পর আছে তারা কিন্তু পরই থেকে যাবে, কোনদিন আপন হবে না।"

At first it felt much too detailed. Now it feels exciting.

"Curiously, peace-time appeals for individuals to make some small sacrifice in the rate at which they increase their standard of living seem to be less effective than war-time appeals for individuals to lay down their lives."
Interesting.

What an extraordinary piece of art! There's something about this book that's heartbreakingly beautiful. The end kind of left me pondering about life, and dreams.