Original artwork, not a still
In the Beauty of the Lilies · 1996
Books? My books destroyed me. Books are the bane of mankind, I tell myself at least once a day.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The speaker blames books for personal ruin and expands that accusation to all humanity. Repeating the judgment to himself every day suggests a grievance that remains active. The sweeping language conveys bitterness, while leaving the exact damage and his continuing relationship with books unstated.
Context reviewed
