Where did the terror come from? Not from the violence; violence gives release from terror. Not from Leroy's wrongness, for if he were altogether wrong, an evil man, the matter would be simple and no cause for terror. No, it came from Leroy's goodness, that he is a decent, sweet-natured man who would help you if you needed help, go out of his way and bind up a stranger's wounds. No, the terror comes from the goodness and what lies beneath, some fault in the soul's terrain so deep that all is well on top, evil grins like good, but something shears and tears deep down and the very ground stirs beneath one's feet.
The essence of the quote reflects on the unsettling nature of true goodness. It suggests that terror does not stem from overt violence or wrongdoing, as these situations are more straightforward and thus less frightening. Instead, the fear emerges from a person's inherent goodness, highlighting the complexity and unpredictability that it brings. Leroy's kindness and willingness to help others clash with a deeper, hidden turmoil within him, provoking a profound sense of unease.
This internal conflict reveals a deeper malaise in the human condition, where apparent morality can be juxtaposed with an underlying disquiet. The goodness in Leroy, while commendable, masks a troubling depth that disrupts the stability of one's perceptions. The quote implies that the most terrifying facets of human nature may lie not in overt evil but in the mysterious and potentially unsettling depths of what is perceived as good.
