" I could have forced myself to adapt," said Taads. " In this world the individual self is of such importance that it is allowed to become absorbed in itself and to grub around in its trivial personal history for years on end with the help of a psychiatrist, so as to be able to cope. But I don't think that is important enough. And then suicide is no longer a disgrace. If I had done it earlier, I would have done it in hatred, but that is no longer the case." " Hatred?" " I used to hate the world. People, smells, dogs, feet, telephones, newspapers, voices — everything filled me with the greatest disgust. I have always been afraid I might murder somebody. Suicide is when you have been all around the world with your fear and your aggression and you end up by yourself again." " It remains aggression." " Not necessarily." " What are you waiting for then?" " For the right moment. The time has not yet come." He said it amiably, as if he were talking to a child. "