"There are incurably damaged people who are so deeply infected by greed, vanity and envy that there is no way to approach and reconcile their sick souls. Aim for these, but avoid them. There is no generous act, selfless behavior, brave and noble approach that can help these people. In particular, envy torments these people. They throw up bile, scream in their sleep, toss and turn on their bums like scumbags, and spit foam when they see that someone has earned or achieved something in life through work or the benevolence of fate. These are patients, infectious patients. Avoid their company, don't believe that arguments and proof can ever convince them. It's as if you want to prove to the leper that the healthy are sinless and innocent! He doesn't believe it. If you reveal to them the real cause of their illness, they will hate you. If you try to affect their feelings, they will blow the whistle. They live as deeply in their emotions as in the fate of the exile: they know no other solution but revenge. Don't bargain with them, avoid them and endure their existence on earth as a stroke of fate.
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Author
Márai SándorAll Translations
All Translations
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There are incurably damaged people who are so deeply infected by greed, vanity and envy that there is no way to approach and reconcile their sick souls. Aim for these, but avoid them. There is no generous act, selfless behavior, brave and noble approach that can help these people. In particular, envy torments these people. They throw up bile, scream in their sleep, toss and turn on their bums like scumbags, and spit foam when they see that someone has earned or achieved something in life through work or the benevolence of fate. These are patients, infectious patients. Avoid their company, don't believe that arguments and proof can ever convince them. It's as if you want to prove to the leper that the healthy are sinless and innocent! He doesn't believe it. If you reveal to them the real cause of their illness, they will hate you. If you try to affect their feelings, they will blow the whistle. They live as deeply in their emotions as in the fate of the exile: they know no other solution but revenge. Don't bargain with them, avoid them and endure their existence on earth as a stroke of fate.
""Vannak gyógyíthatatlanul sérült emberek, kiket a kapzsiság, a hiúság és az irigység oly mélyen megfertőzött, hogy nincs semmiféle mód reá, megközelíteni és megengesztelni beteg lelküket. Ezeket szánjad, de kerüljed. Nincs az a nagylelkű cselekedet, önzetlen magatartás, bátor és nemes közeledés, ami segíthet ez embereken. Különösképpen az irigység kínozza ez embereket. Epét hánynak, álmukban felordítanak, hánykolódnak vackukon, mint a nyavalyatörősök, habot köpnek, ha azt látják, hogy valaki munkával vagy a kegyes sors jóindulatával szerzett, elért valamit az életben. Betegek ezek, fertőző betegek. Kerüld a társaságukat, ne hidd, hogy érvelés, bizonyítás valaha is meggyőzheti őket. Mintha a leprásnak akarnád bizonyítani, hogy az egészségesek bűntelenek és ártatlanok! Nem hiszi el. Ha feltárod előttük betegségük igazi okát, meggyűlölnek. Ha érzéseikre akarsz hatni, fütyköst ragadnak. Oly mélyen élnek indulataikban, mint a száműzött sorsában: nem ismernek más megoldást, csak a bosszút. Ne alkudozz velük, kerüld el őket, s viseld el létezésüket a földön, mint egy sorscsapást."