Is it responsibility or blame that bothers you?" "I don't want blame.""Sometimes responsibility is worse. It doesn't carry any pleasant egotism.""I was thinking about that time when Sam Hamilton and you and I had a long discussion about a word," said Adam. "What was that word?""Now I see. The word was timshel.""Timshel-and you said-""I said that word carried a man's greatness if he wanted to take advantage of it.""I remember Sam Hamilton felt good about it.""It set him free," said Lee. "It gave him the right ot be a man, seperate from every other man.""That's lonely.""All great and precious things are lonely.
by John Steinbeck
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In this exchange, the characters delve into the concepts of responsibility and blame. One character expresses a desire to avoid blame, suggesting that it can be burdensome and unwelcome. The conversation shifts to the idea that sometimes responsibility can feel heavier than blame, lacking any sense of pride or satisfaction. This introspection leads them to reflect on a significant word they had previously discussed, "timshel," which can be interpreted as a source of empowerment. The discussion highlights how "timshel" represents the potential for greatness within an individual, suggesting that it grants a person the autonomy to forge their own path. However, this freedom comes with loneliness, as greatness often entails a level of isolation. The characters acknowledge that achieving great and valuable things typically involves a degree of solitude, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of personal responsibility and the quest for individuality.

In this exchange, the characters delve into the concepts of responsibility and blame. One character expresses a desire to avoid blame, suggesting that it can be burdensome and unwelcome. The conversation shifts to the idea that sometimes responsibility can feel heavier than blame, lacking any sense of pride or satisfaction. This introspection leads them to reflect on a significant word they had previously discussed, "timshel," which can be interpreted as a source of empowerment.

The discussion highlights how "timshel" represents the potential for greatness within an individual, suggesting that it grants a person the autonomy to forge their own path. However, this freedom comes with loneliness, as greatness often entails a level of isolation. The characters acknowledge that achieving great and valuable things typically involves a degree of solitude, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of personal responsibility and the quest for individuality.

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