Cracked gold theatrical mask beside a low cluster of red poppies on dark teal

Original artwork, not a still

Renton

People think it’s all about misery and desperation and death and all that shit which is not to be ignored, but what they forget is the pleasure of it. Otherwise we wouldn’t do it. After all, we’re not fucking stupid.

— Trainspotting • 1996

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker argues that outsiders see only the misery, desperation and death, which are real and not to be ignored, but overlook the pleasure. That enjoyment, the speaker insists, is why people do it at all, since they are not stupid.

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