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The Section Chief
The director is Poprishchin’s boss and the father of Sophie, Poprishchin’s love interest. Poprishchin believes the director is a very educated man because his office contains many books with foreign titles. The director barely speaks to Poprishchin, only occasionally making small talk about the weather; nevertheless, Poprishchin wishes he could start up a conversation with him. Poprishchin’s interactions with the director illustrate the difference between his internal thoughtsverbose, analytical, and oftentimes judgmentaland his meek behavior.
The Director Quotes in The Diary of a Madman
The The Diary of a Madman quotes below are all either spoken by The Director or refer to The Director. 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:
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October 4
Quotes
Our director must be a very intelligent man. His whole study is filled with bookcases. I read the titles of some of the books: it’s all learning, such learning as our kind can’t even come close to… A real statesman. I notice, though, that he has a special liking for me. If only the daughter also...
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November 11
Quotes
I’ve meant several times to strike up a conversation with His Excellency, only, devil take it, my tongue wouldn’t obey me: I’d just say it was cold or warm outside, and be decidedly unable to say anything else. I’d like to peek into the drawing room, where you sometimes see only an open door into yet another room beyond the drawing room. Ah, such rich furnishings!
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The 86th of Martober
Quotes
They said the director was coming. Many clerks ran up front to show themselves before him. But I didn’t budge… What is a director that I should stand up before him… I was most amused when they slipped me a paper to be signed. They thought I’d write “Chief Clerk So-and-So”… Not a chance! In the central place, where the director of the department signs, I dashed off: “Ferdinand VIII.”
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The Director Quotes in The Diary of a Madman
The The Diary of a Madman quotes below are all either spoken by The Director or refer to The Director. 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:
).
October 4
Quotes
Our director must be a very intelligent man. His whole study is filled with bookcases. I read the titles of some of the books: it’s all learning, such learning as our kind can’t even come close to… A real statesman. I notice, though, that he has a special liking for me. If only the daughter also...
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November 11
Quotes
I’ve meant several times to strike up a conversation with His Excellency, only, devil take it, my tongue wouldn’t obey me: I’d just say it was cold or warm outside, and be decidedly unable to say anything else. I’d like to peek into the drawing room, where you sometimes see only an open door into yet another room beyond the drawing room. Ah, such rich furnishings!
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The 86th of Martober
Quotes
They said the director was coming. Many clerks ran up front to show themselves before him. But I didn’t budge… What is a director that I should stand up before him… I was most amused when they slipped me a paper to be signed. They thought I’d write “Chief Clerk So-and-So”… Not a chance! In the central place, where the director of the department signs, I dashed off: “Ferdinand VIII.”
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