For in me there have always been two fools, among others, one asking nothing better than to stay where he is and the other imagining that life might be slightly less horrible a little further on. So that I was never disappointed, so to speak, whatever I did, in this domain. And these inseparable fools I indulged turn about, that they might understand their foolishness.
In this reflection from Molloy by Samuel Beckett, the narrator describes an internal struggle between two contrasting aspects of his nature. One part yearns for stability and comfort, preferring to remain in a familiar state, while the other part dreams of the possibility that life might improve if he ventures beyond his current circumstances. This duality highlights a human tendency to oscillate between contentment and a desire for change, revealing a complex relationship with hope and despair.
The narrator acknowledges that this perpetual conflict allows him to avoid disappointment, as he oscillates between these two "fools." By indulging both sides of his nature, he seeks to understand their foolishness, providing insight into the human experience of grappling with the tension between acceptance and aspiration. Beckett captures the essence of this struggle, illustrating how our desires and fears coexist in a fragile balance.