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Bernard is an Alpha citizen who, by some mischance, is physically much smaller than Alphas are supposed to be. Bernard's small stature has given him an inferiority complex. As a result, he feels like an outsider to World State society. This outsider status and individuality allows Bernard both to recognize and criticize the flaws of the World State—and, as a result, other citizens suspect him for his avoidance of universally-accepted things like promiscuous sex and the soma drug that the rest of the population uses to numb themselves. But Bernard’s inferiority complex also makes him defensive, resentful, jealous, cowardly, and boastful. Bernard dates Lenina Crowne at the beginning of the novel, taking her to the Savage Reservation in New Mexico. Bernard enjoys feeling like a rebellious outsider until it costs him something—the Director threatens to send him to Iceland for being too unorthodox. In response, he gets revenge by bringing John (the Savage) back to London and exposing the Director as John’s father, which causes the Director to resign from his position in shame. Bernard also enjoys the popularity he gains by association with John, but when he learns that people are just humoring him, he soon grows resentful. He envies John’s friendship with his closest friend, Helmholtz; when John stages a brief rebellion in the hospital, Bernard can’t decide whether to support the two, and when arrested, he makes an embarrassing plea for clemency. By the time Bernard and Helmholtz are sent to an island together by Mustapha Mond, though, Bernard appears to have been humbled.
Bernard Marx Quotes in Brave New World
The Brave New World quotes below are all either spoken by Bernard Marx or refer to Bernard Marx. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 5
Quotes
“Ford, we are twelve; oh make us one,
Like drops within the Social River;
Oh, make us now together run
As swiftly as thy shining Flivver.
Come, Greater Being, Social Friend,
Annihilating Twelve-in-One!
We long to die, for when we end,
Our larger life has but begun.
Feel how the Greater Being comes!
Rejoice and, in rejoicings, die!
Melt in the music of the drums!
For I am you and you are I.
Orgy-porgy, Ford and fun,
Kiss the girls and make them One.
Boys at One with girls at peace;
Orgy-porgy gives release.”
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Chapter 6
Quotes
“A gramme in time saves nine.”
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Chapter 8
Quotes
"O brave new world," he repeated. "O brave new world that has such people in it. Let's start at once."
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Chapter 10
Quotes
“The greater a man's talents, the greater his power to lead astray. It is better that one should suffer than that many should be corrupted. Consider the matter dispassionately, Mr. Foster, and you will see that no offence is so heinous as unorthodoxy of behavior. Murder kills only the individual—and, after all, what is an individual?”
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Bernard Marx Quotes in Brave New World
The Brave New World quotes below are all either spoken by Bernard Marx or refer to Bernard Marx. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 5
Quotes
“Ford, we are twelve; oh make us one,
Like drops within the Social River;
Oh, make us now together run
As swiftly as thy shining Flivver.
Come, Greater Being, Social Friend,
Annihilating Twelve-in-One!
We long to die, for when we end,
Our larger life has but begun.
Feel how the Greater Being comes!
Rejoice and, in rejoicings, die!
Melt in the music of the drums!
For I am you and you are I.
Orgy-porgy, Ford and fun,
Kiss the girls and make them One.
Boys at One with girls at peace;
Orgy-porgy gives release.”
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Chapter 6
Quotes
“A gramme in time saves nine.”
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Chapter 8
Quotes
"O brave new world," he repeated. "O brave new world that has such people in it. Let's start at once."
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Chapter 10
Quotes
“The greater a man's talents, the greater his power to lead astray. It is better that one should suffer than that many should be corrupted. Consider the matter dispassionately, Mr. Foster, and you will see that no offence is so heinous as unorthodoxy of behavior. Murder kills only the individual—and, after all, what is an individual?”
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