And what, brothers, I had to escape into sleep from then was the horrible and wrong feeling that it was better to get the hit than give it. If that veck had stayed I might even have like presented the other cheek.
The quote from Anthony Burgess's "A Clockwork Orange" reflects the inner turmoil of the protagonist regarding violence and morality. The character grapples with an unsettling notion that accepting harm might be preferable to inflicting it. This feeling highlights a deep conflict between his aggressive nature and the desire to respond in a non-violent way.
The mention of "presenting the other cheek" suggests a struggle with the principles of forgiveness and pacifism....