The old man said, 'You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go. It is the basic condition of life, to be required to violate your own identity. At some time, every creature which lives must do so. It is the ultimate shadow, the defeat of creation; this is the curse at work, the curse that feeds on all life. Everywhere in the universe.
The old man in Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" reflects on a profound truth about existence. He asserts that every being faces a situation where they must compromise their identity and values. This inevitable struggle against one's own principles is a universal experience, suggesting that all creatures, at some point, encounter this moral dilemma. It highlights the inherent conflict in life and the darker aspects that accompany it.
This concept serves as a commentary on the human condition and the existential burdens that come with living. The old man's words reveal a sense of resignation to the "curse" that permeates life, suggesting that every individual must grapple with these shadows. It points to the idea that to exist means facing these trials, underscoring the complexities of identity and moral choices in a universe filled with such challenges.
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