Oblomovitis

"

'What, then, is life in your opinion?',
'It is --' Stolz pondered or a while, trying to find a name for this sort of life - 'it is a sort of Oblomovitis!' he said at last.

'Oblomovitis! Oblomov repeated slowly, surprised at this strange definition and scanning it syllable by syllable. 'Oblomovitis - ob-lo-mo-vi-tis!'

He gave Stolz a strange and intent look.

'And what is this ideal of life, in our opinion, then? What is not Oblomovitis? he asked timidly and without enthusiasm. 'Doesn't everybody strive to achive the very thing I dream of? Why', he added, 'isn't the whole purpose of all your rushing about, all your passions, wars, trade, and politics to attain rest - reach this ideal of a lost paradise?'

'Your utopia, too, is a typical Oblomov utopia,' replied Stolz.

'But everyone seeks peace and rest!' Oblomov defend himself."

Ivan Goncharov, Oblomov, Penguin Books, p.180.

Por sugestão da entrevista a Henrique Vila-Matas publicada no último número da revista LER.