31 Powerful 'Heart Of Darkness' Quotes Explained For Students

The novella, 'Heart Of Darkness', is about a voyage up the Congo River, Africa.

Marlow is obsessed with the success of the ivory trader Kurtz. Onboard a boat on the River Thames, he recounts his favorite story.

The story is centered around the idea that there is no significant difference between “savages” and “civilized people”. Since its release, 'Heart Of Darkness' has been republished and translated into many languages. Listed are some of the best quotes from the book.

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The important 'Heart Of Darkness' quotes let you ponder the racism in 'Heart Of Darkness' quotes and the imperialism in 'Heart Of Darkness' quotes.

You may also check out Achilles quotes and wind quotes.

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Greed is amongst one of the central themes for Joseph Conrad’s 'Heart Of Darkness'.

1. “Because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is of the very essence of dreams…”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow says trying to tell you about Mr Kurtz is like trying to describe a dream.

2. “I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint...yet struggling blindly with itself.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow declares Kurtz has gone mad without any contact to the outside world.

3. "Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his lusts."

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow describes the cause of Mr Kurtz’s doom.

4. “He had something to say. He said it.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow explains why Kurtz is remarkable.

5. “Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire. What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth!”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

This talks about the greatness of the Congo River and its importance.

Life in seclusion on the sea, especially if one is accustomed to city life, can be difficult. Here’s how.

6. “It was written I should be loyal to the nightmare of my choice.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Talking about how his loyalties belong to Mr Kurtz.

7. “It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Kurtz explaining how the shadows have changed him and he is no longer the man he was.

8. “No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one’s existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning--its subtle and penetrating essence.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Joseph Conrad exclaims that life is yours alone and thus its experiences unshareable.

9. “We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Exclaiming as they went farther down the river.

10. “We live as we dream--alone…”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow exclaims we live alone just like we dream alone.

11. “I have wrestled with death. It is the most unexciting contest you can imagine.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

The romantic view of death is not as exciting when faced with it in reality.

12. “And this also...has been one of the dark places of the earth.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow draws a comparison between London and Africa as places of darkness.

13. “One can’t live with one’s finger everlastingly on one’s pulse.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

One can’t keep worrying about one’s life constantly.

14. “Sadness flies on the wings of the morning, and out of the heart of darkness comes the light.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Light comes from the darkest, most unexpected places.

15. “Even extreme grief may ultimately vent itself in violence.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow observes that extreme grief can also lead to violence.

16. “We live in the flicker -- may it last as long as the old earth keeps rolling!”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Our entire life goes by in a flicker of light which will hopefully last as long as the earth keeps rolling.

'Heart of Darkness' quotes on exploitation and racial discrimination prove that imperialism is a real issue.

17. “Your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Strength is relative and dependent on others being weak at the time.

18. “The mind of man is capable of anything.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Philosophical musings of Marlow.

19. “The Horror! The Horror!”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Kurtz’s last words seemingly acknowledging the horror of his own actions.

20. “Droll thing life is - that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow exclaims as he fails to understand the meaning and purpose of life.

21. "Being hungry, you know, and kept on my feet too, I was getting savage."

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow describing the effects of jungle on a man.

22. “When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages—”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow remarks of annoyance when he has to redo a task full of mistakes.

23. “Well … that was the worst of it—this suspicion of their not being inhuman.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Kurtz claims that the 'uncivilized brutes' might actually be human, much like Europeans.

24. "In some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him..."

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Realizing the savagery of everything around him.

25. “The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Referring to the evil practice of discrimination and denouncing it.

26.  “There is a taint of death, a flavor of mortality in lies.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow expressing his hatred for lies after listening to the brickmaster’s lies.

27. “Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself and, by heavens I tell you, it had gone mad.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow declares Kurtz has gone mad being alone in the jungle.

28. “You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow explains why he hates lies.

29. "Exterminate all the brutes!"

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

An example of Kurtz’s vanity.

30. “I observed with assumed innocence that no man was safe from trouble in this world.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Alluding that the “heart of darkness” lies within one’s self.

31. “It was like a weary pilgrimage amongst hints for nightmares.”

- 'Heart Of Darkness'.

Marlow comforts himself by alluding to his ignoble voyage as pilgrimage.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Heart Of Darkness' quotes, then why not take a look at Athena quotes and knight quotes.

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