Brother raises a hand against brother and son against father {how terrible!} and the father also against son. And moreover it is a continuity-matter, for if the father did not strike the son, they would not be alike. It is done to perpetuate similarity. Oh, Henderson, man cannot keep still under the blows.... A hit B? B hit C?--we have not enough alphabet to cover the condition. A brave man will try to make the evil stop with him. He shall keep the blow. No man shall get it from him, and that is a sublime ambition.
The quote reflects the tragic cycle of violence within familial relationships, emphasizing how one act of aggression can lead to another, perpetuating a chain of harm. The imagery of brother against brother and father against son highlights the deep emotional and moral crises stemming from these actions. The speaker suggests that this violence creates a disturbing continuity, implying that unless someone intervenes, the cycle will endlessly repeat.
In this context, the notion of a brave individual who chooses to absorb the impact of violence instead of passing it on becomes a noble aspiration. This person seeks to break the cycle, embodying self-restraint and courage. By choosing to keep the blow for themselves, they aim to foster a different legacy, one that does not perpetuate pain and destruction, which is depicted as an admirable goal in the face of overwhelming adversity.
