The quote from William S. Burroughs' "Naked Lunch" describes a grim perspective on humanity, suggesting that society is plagued by various afflictions. These afflictions, including poverty and hatred, are portrayed as symptoms of a deeper issue referred to as "The Human Virus." This metaphor implies that these negative elements are inherent and pervasive in human existence, spreading through every facet of life, down to the minutiae of daily interactions and individual cells.

Burroughs presents a bleak vision of the human condition, where systemic problems like war and corruption are not just external challenges but internal maladies that define human experience. By likening these issues to a virus, he emphasizes their infectious nature, suggesting that without intervention, they will continue to reproduce and affect society at large. The imagery used evokes a sense of desperation and a need for change to combat the insidious spread of these symptoms.